BX 8448 
J63 



I 




— OF THE — 

A. M. E. CHURCH 

—OR— 

The Necessity for an Ample force of Bishops, 

BY 

REV. JAMES H. A. JOHNSON, D. D. 



1888. 



PRINTED BY HOFFMAN & CO. 
Nos. 48 & 50 West Baltimore Street 

BALTIMORE, MD. 



! 



INTRODUCTION. 



The little volume that is hereby presented to the public, has 
been formed according- to the necessity of the times. The 
whole design prevailing in its composition, is to bring the ef- 
fective element of the Church to a conclusion to do what will 
be a lasting benefit to the colored race in particular, and all 
mankind in general. It is conceived that the only absolute 
method of carrying on church work, is by complete organiza- 
tion. Indeed, this may be considered as the process applicable 
to all fields of labor controlled by persons in a collective sense. 

No one can reasonably deny that an Episcopal organization 
ought to be carried to the full extent of its efficiency. Some 
who have not much regard for the episcopacy may attempt to 
deny it : but those who are true to such a form of government 
would not think of denying it. They would rather exert every 
means within their power to extend, confirm, build up and in- 
vigorate this branch of ecclesiastical government, so that it 
might be more efficient in its labors for the conversion of the 
world. 

Deep cuts are made with sharp axes ; heavy blows are struck 
with large hammers. He who would produce the best results 
in any given direction, will appreciate, secure, preserve and. 
improve the implements with which he can do it. He will not 
knock the edge from his axe, nor lessen the size of his 
hammer. 

If the African Methodist Episcopal Church is a Methodist 
Episcopal organization, common sense and reason tell us that 
an increase of its influence depends upon the force and fulness 
of its episcopacy. You cannot circumscribe and weaken this 
without doing injury to the organization. Let the head grow, 
multiply the convolutions of the brain, fire up the intellect and 
you sustain the power that controls the whole body — arms, 
legs and feet. Uphold an episcopacy according to the neces- 
sity of the times, and you make stronger the organization that 
it controls. 

This little book is designed to induce thinking men to see 
the importance of this fact and to act in accordance with it. 
The author hopes that they will read, ponder and see every 
thing set forth on the several pages, and then conclude that 
nothing less than the establishment of a full force of Bishops 
with Presiding Elders will develop the latent power of the 
A. M. E. Church. It is hoped that they will see that an ample 
force of Bishops will make the Church strongly episcopal, and 
an extended Presiding Eldership will make it stongly Metho- 
distic. 



Hagerstown, Md., Fed, ijth, 188S. 




PRELIMINARY REMARKS. 



OES the A. M. E. Church need more Bishops ? Yes. This 
question now propounded and answered in the affirma- 
tive is to be considered in the light of ruling facts and 
not according to somebody's crude opinion. It is not enough 
to say, "We need no more Bishops." And neither does it set- 
tle the matter to bring the subject of Bishops in co-relation 
with that of presiding elders. The sphere of each is different 
and each subserves a different purpose. Rev. Robert F. Way- 
man understands the matter clearly. And so should every 
man who speaks of it, or attempts to write upon it. The sub- 
ject is of such vast importance, particularly at this time, that 
it should be pondered — that is, the election of more Bishops — 
in the gravest manner for the good of the Church and not for 
the interest of any chafing aspirants. The Church and the 
people are to be taken into consideration to see what is the 
best thing that can be done for them. The wire-pulling age 
has displeased God and passed away, and now has come the 
time for thinkers of the Church, untrammeled, to observe its 
needs and make selections. This making of Bishops and 
breaking of Bishops belongs unto the Lord. None should re- 
gard it as a subject like unto those which belong unto political 
conventions. If it be holy, it is sacrilege to treat it in a politi- 
cal manner, and dangerous for candidates to seek election by 
this method. If it be God's work no one is seeking the glory 
of God when he puts himself forth, burning up with zeal, as 
he says : — 

" I want to be a Bishop, 

And -with the Bishops stand ; 
A high degree of salary, 

And a gavel in my hand." 

It has always been the opinion of the writer, that election to 
this office ought to be effected by brethren of a General Con- 
ference, after mature, prayerful deliberation for the guidance 




6 



of Almighty God. It requires just such a course as this, to 
make the consummation of the work substantial and secure. 
No man's carnal aspirations have anything to do with it. The 
object is holy and divine ; and God claims the right to manage 
it. Matters of such importance concerning his Church, belong 
unto him. Take, for instance, the undertaking to establish a 
king over Israel. Samuel thought one way and the Lord 
thought another way. When Samuel was mistaken in his 
opinion of Eliab, he was told that " man looketh on the out- 
ward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." And 
so Abinadab and Shammah and the several sons of Jesse had 
to pass before Samuel before God settled it in his mind that 
David was to be made king. 

When Judas Iscariot, the chief master in ecclesiastical 
treachery, put his nefarious head in a halter and made a vacan- 
cy in the primitive bishopric, there was no cabal to forward on 
any individual ambition for the office. There was no selfish 
exertion on the part of any to reach the position, that he might 
have his " kith and kin" to go before him with timbrel and 
dance saying, "Great is the successor of Iscariot ! Great is the 
successor of Iscariot!" 

No, no ! The distinguished first General Conference of one 
hundred and twenty persons, that assembled at that time, laid 
the election right before the Lord, appointed Barsabas and Mat- 
thias and then prayed, "Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts 
of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, that 
he may take part of this ministry and apostleship from which 
Judas, by transgression, fell, that he might go to his own 
place." 

All this was done before they cast their lots, and selected 
Matthias to fill the sacred office. Neither one of the candi- 
dates went into electioneering schemes to forward on his own 
personal interest and attain success. There was no jealousy, 
envy, furor and excitement in efforts to reach this holy office 
by election and installment. It was all put into the hands of 
God and settled in a godly manner. 

Even the Church of Rome, to-day, looks upon this as the 
only proper course for it to pursue when there is to be promo- 
tion to any high position. It is asserted that there would be 
no tolerancy of any one who should be found manifesting am- 
bition to be ordained unto the cardinalate, and that he would 
at once be discarded by the Pope. Such a course keeps the 



7 



Church from degenerating into a political machine, and from 
a consequent growth of corruption. No such an organization 
can be so abused without reaching this direful end; nor can 
the instigators of this condition be safe from heaven's ven- 
geance. What right has any man in any divine institution to 
worm himself into any position that God does not will that he 
should fill? Uzzah was all right when he was acting as a driver 
of the new cart bearing the ark, but when he put forth his 
hand and took hold of the ark because it shook as it went over 
Nachon's threshing floor, he did what God had not ordained 
him to do in this sacred matter, and was therefore smitten and 
slain by the Lord. Ambition for aggrandizement is ungodly. 

No man should be regarded as a worthy candidate for the 
episcopacy when he settles down upon himself and in his heart 
nominates himself, and then like a fox studies out how many 
crooked ways of policy he shall go to reach the desired end. 
He should keep the fate of Uzzah before his eyes and say, 
"If the Lord wants me it is all right; if he does not, I have no 
business there." The time is now approaching for the A. M. 
E. Church to elect more brethren to the episcopal office, and 
so it behooves all of us, ad interim, to weigh this matter well, 
that we may come to a just conclusion. 

The writer, for the first time, proposes to discuss the subject 
so far as he is able, in all its various bearings. 



CHAPTER II. 
The Present Condition of our Episcopacy. 



§T the last General Conference, the Church had nine 
Bishops and one quasi Bishop. I hope no one will mis- 
articulate this and say "one crazy Bishop." Since that 
Conference the number nine has been diminished until it has 
come down, by death, to the number six. No one pre-conceived 
such mortality and diminution. He certainly did not form an 
idea that death would -take those who have gone as his first 
victims- There were older ones and feebler ones, apparently, 
who would be for him as easier prey. But, as like lightning, 
no one knows where it will strike ; no one knows who will be 
first brought down by the cold, keen sickle's edge. By one 
thrust down came Dickerson; by another down came Cain ; 



8 



and then, by one sudden stroke, as if the instrument had been 
sharpened for the purpose, Shorter was left withering on the 
ghastly field of harvest. And so went the young, and so went 
the old, leaving it for us to say : — 

•' There is a reaper whose name is death, 

And with his sickle keen 
He reaps the bearded grain at a breath, 
And the flowers which grow between." 

Let us now then make an inspection of the remnant of the 
force : Bishops Payne, Wayman, Campbell, Brown, Ward 
and Turner are the active officials remaining with us. But 
one-half of them are not in a vigorous condition. Age has 
signally effected them and disease is making inroads upon 
some of them. The vitality of youth has passed away and 
the strength of manhood at the oxen and lion age has gone. 
By some of them the race has been fully run, even to the last 
day of three score years and ten. Faithful indeed have they 
been in the arduous pursuit of their duties, but it is impossible 
for them to show this energy now. He who goes beyond his 
sixtieth year, is getting on to be an old man. He who has 
reached his seventieth year, is an old man. He who goes five 
years beyond this period, is a very old man. The occupants 
of our episcopal bench are now chiefly old men, and almost 
every one of them, if they should live, would be a septuagena- 
rian and one an octogenarian before the General Conference 
of 1892. At this rate, in such a short time, the Church would 
have an actually superannuated Board of Bishops. But it is 
not reasonable to suppose that time would be so accommodat- 
ing as to allow the Church even this feeble board. By all 
probability at least three would be taken to that "bourne 
whence no traveler returns." What then ? Why, the Church 
would have but three weak and well-worn men to perform the 
onerous duties of the episcopal office. By the natural course 
of events it is undeniable that the personality of the episcopal 
board is gradually, if not rapidly losing power. 

Bishop D. A. Payne, standing now at a ripe, old age, attain- 
ed by the observance of an inimitable systematic method of 
living, is far fiom being the vigorous, energetic, persevering 
Payne he was twenty years ago. It is impossible for him to 
be what he has been, or do what he has done. Necessity will 
soon compel us to recognize him as Bishop emeritus. 

Japez P. Campbell, truly termed the "Grand Old Man," and 
John M. Brown, bland and refined and great as a church 



9 



worker, are both being stopped upon the rachet and are not 
now able to move in every direction according to former will* 
Time declares that they must soon be classed as the emeriti 
worthy of all honor and support. Taking the Board now in its 
most favorable light, there is no method of reasoning by which 
it can be interpreted to be adequate to this advanced age of 
physical force, electric motion and general expansion. In ev- 
ery generation we find that the larger driving wheels are 
leaving the smaller ones behind, and that the amount of steam 
that would make the smaller revolve fast enough to keep up 
with the larger, wou'd certainly burst the boiler. 

Bishop Wayman and Bishop Turner are still pretty strong 
men, but they cannot continually rush along through all crea- 
tion and different parts of the United States besides and attend 
to the work of a dozen Bishops and forever remain in a good 
condition. The former being within five years of the end of 
his allotted time, suddenly must fail and leave a still heavier 
burden on his stronger collaborator. Bishop Turner is the 
youngest man on the board, and still the aggregate age of all 
of them is 403 years. This gives us an average of a fraction 
more than 67 years for every incumbent. This brings us up to 
the point now of considering the relative amount of intellec- 
tual strength. Every philosopher knows that physical powers 
enervated by age, produce a telling effect upon the mind. 
They restrain the intellectual operations to such an extent that 
it is impossible for conclusions to be reached as clearly as they 
can be at a better stage of existence. The mind cannot go 
through the same gymnastic feats, nor show the same tenacity 
o r purpose, nor stand the same perplexities. If any one 
should contradict this, let him turn his attention to the fact 
that upon this ground the United States government retires 
its generals when they attain the age of sixty-eight. This 
sime rule is applicable to our Episcopal Board. The incum- 
bents who, twelve years ago, traversed the meandering paths 
of science, plunged into the difficulties of various important 
problems, illuminated the literary field with flashes of their 
genius and magnetized the admirers who surrounded them, 
have not that same degree of intellectual force to-day. The 
eyes are growing dim and the fire is abating. Good they may 
be for counsel, but not so good for strength. The intellectual 
contests which were jollifications to them in days gone by, 
would be headaches, heartaches and death at the present 
time. And still those who say, "We want no more Bishops," 
do not seem to take these points into consideration. 



10 



CHAPTER III. 

The Great Episcopal Work that is to be 
Performed. 



fHE duties of a Bishop are over and above those of a 
presiding elder. They are multifarious and such as de- 
mand the highest degree of ability. The very fact that 
*' he shall travel at large through his district and visit every 
circuit and station and oversee the spiritual and temporal busi- 
ness of the societies in his district/' makes it impracticable for 
him, impossible for him, to be meddling with everybody else's 
business and, at the same time, to be attending to his own 
duty. Strict attention to the demands of three Conferences, 
forming one district, is about as much labor as can be perform- 
ed by any one man in the course of one year. And this labor 
should be performed to the very letter of the law. The 
Bishop shall "visit every circuit and station * * * in his 
district." Now, then, to comprehend the absorbiug nature of 
this task alone, we will give sixty appointments to a Confer- 
ence and one hundred and eighty to his district. This will 
cause us to take into consideration the average of two socie- 
ties to an appointment, and the aggregating of 360 societies 
to be brought under episcopal observation and inspection. 
Every one of these societies, to give inspiration to the people, 
should be visited by the Bishop in the course of one year. 
This within itself is quite a task ; for it is clearly seen that 
there are almost as many societies as there are days in the 
year. Now, taking this part alone of the matter, temporally 
and spiritually, and in every particular, into consideration, it 
may be asserted that this is not the least important part of his 
varied duty. It is of the greatest advantage to the Church in 
general for a Bishop to give his presence to every part of his 
district. He by this means encourages the ministers and 
strengthens the people. But if he has to run into everybody's 
district, he cannot completely travel through his own, and his 
own must proportionately suffer for a want of his presence. 

And now, moreover, to make his itinerancy productive of 
the best results in this direction, he is to prepare himself for 
it. He is to have time to study out sermons and addresses for 
the people, so that he may give them new thoughts and theo- 
ries all along the line. In advanced ideas he should lead the 
very ministry subordinated to his authority. He should in all 



11 



respects qualify himself to stand in his district abreast of the 
times. To do this he should resort to his library and there 
employ all the means at his command. This requires labor. 

Then, again, there is an amount of correspondence inciden- 
tal to the work in his district that must receive his serious at- 
tention. It is his duty to give every letter and every note a 
respectful consideration. This must be done for a preservation 
of the dignity of his office and to make him as honorable, at 
least, as a common politician. The interest of the Church re- 
quires him to exercise much care relative to his civility. But 
he cannot do it, even with an amanuensis, when he is given up 
to an unreasonable amount of time on the highways. Let any 
Bishop systematically discharge his duty in a district composed 
of the Baltimore, Virginia and North Carolina Conferences 
and it will be discerned that he has as much as he can do to 
fully manage his correspondence. 

Let again any one do the traveling commanded to be done 
in such a district — and it is written, *' He shall not exercise his 
episcopal office in any degree over the Church unless he travel 
at large throughout his district " — and it will be made patent 
that by the time he has gone into every part of Maryland, Vir- 
ginia and North Carolina, dedicated churches, held conferen- 
ces, paid extra visits, politely attended to all his correspond- 
ence, and prepared new sermons and addresses, he has done 
all that he could do in the course of one year. And yet all 
this must be done ; and besides this, there "are little incidental 
duties which must also be performed to give polish to his 
episcopal work. He is to study parliamentary usages, and 
the manners becoming to a presiding officer, and the difference 
between law and his ipse dixit, and the dignity of his position 
and the decorum that is due to deliberative bodies. He is to 
do all these things and have prosperity in his district. The 
great work before him does not consist in his jumping from 
place to place, but in exercising himself to the end of leaving 
deep and everlasting footprints all along his journey. The 
all-important question is, What has he done ? Not, Where has 
he been ? The work to be done in any district composed of 
three conferences — and there should not be more — is a hercu- 
lean one, particular and all-absorbing. In the present day it 
requires great consideration, and men adapted to it. 

People are to be wrought upon outside of the Church and 
inside of the Church. White and black are to be brought un- 



12 



der the influence of an episcopacy that will demand their re- 
spect and increase the merit of the A. M. E. organization. 
Everywhere successful competition is to be made with the 
spirit of the present age. Heresies are to be uprooted, intel- 
lectual skill is to be matched and every right of the people is 
to be considered worthy of a sacred advocacy. 

In all of this it is manifest to every wise observer, that a 
sufficient episcopal force must be established for the benefit of 
the coming generation. Strength here, is advancement. 
Weakness, is retrogression. Inadequacy of force, is profound 
confusion. The adaptation of duties to a sparsity of agents is 
the muddling of interests and a clogging of the wheels of 
ecclesiastical progress. 



CHAPTER IV. 

The Character of the Men Needed for the 
Episcopal Office. 



GENERATION has passed away since the organization 
of orr present Board of Bishops. Old methods have 
been superseded by new ones. The advancement of the 
present times requires agents and institutions in keeping with 
it. Every step that can be taken in harmony with this pro- 
gression is essential to the welfare of all social forms of gov- 
ernment. The accuracy of adaptation, which within itself is 
promotional, must be observed at this time as the effectual 
means of meeting the demands of the hour. 

The A. M. E. Church, as an established institution, has in- 
creased its influence until it has become conspicuously identi- 
fied as one of the important organized bodies of this enlight- 
ened age. All its machinery, therefore, is to be managed for 
its continual growth. Its leading men are to be fully qualified 
for this part of the business : and none more so than those 
who fill the episcopal office. They should be strong, if possible, 
in every particular. They should, anyhow, in a general sense be 
free from petty jealousies, disgusting egotism — for egoism is 
bad enough, — free from envy, malice and revenge ; free from 
levity, treachery and deceit. Treachery ! What man is fit for a 
leading position who is imbued with such a spirit? As well 
might you make a wolf the watch-dog of a sheep-cote; or a 



13 



rattlesnake the fostering mother of a dovelet's nest. None 
but the pure in heart should be put in high places. The times 
require men for the Church and men for high positions in the 
Church who have an "eye single to the glory of God." 

They should be strong, faithful, well-trained, self-sacrificing, 
God fearing men — men able, too, both in body and in mind. 
This has been the reason why the distinguished Daniel A. 
Payne has been able to render such valuable services for the 
last thirty-five years in the episcopacy of the A. M. E. Church. 
The times now demand just such men. A vast expansion of 
territory is to be traveled, cultured minds are to be met and 
the work of grace is to be extended amongst all classes of the 
people. 

More Bishops are needed to attend to this work in detail, and 
must be fitted for the purpose. They must be religious men 
with brains and education. They should be great men, able 
to govern other men, without showing enmity and prejudice. 
The sacred charge committed to them should be unto them as 
the children of their own family around the fireside. Never 
should they have the disposition to make their appointments 
with the least degree of malice toward anyone. So well form- 
ed should be the character of a man for benevolence and love 
in this position that he should take conspicuously the deepest 
interest in the temporal, as well as the spiritual welfare of lhe 
brethren at his command. He should strive to build them up 
and sympathize with them, as Bishop Campbell has done with 
tears in his eyes. He who is without such feeling, how dwell- 
eth the love of God in him ? Men for this position should be 
the meekest, the kindest and the humblest men within the 
borders of a Church. They should be those who would be 
trampled upon rather than those who would trample upors 
anybody. They should not be men who would be puffed up 
with a lordly idea of their office : for God never ordained the 
position (if he did ordain it) to be accepted in any such spirit. 
He says, "A Bishop must be blameless as the steward of God; 
not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, 
not given to filthy lucre ; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of 
good men, sober, just, holy temperate." 

Again, this is a day of literature and science. It is for this 
reason, then, that men with a marked degree of such attain- 
ments — men versed in languages — Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and 
other languages and different branches of science, should be 



14 



added to the Board. Some of the best educated, good men,, 
should be selected to fill the office, so that the Church might 
have strong defenders of the faith in every time of need. 

In connection with these there should be men of sterling 
common sense. Such are needed for the safe management of 
the affairs of the Church and should be elected on their merit. 
It is wise to get as much brain and education as possible. The 
best and strongest men should be selected for this office. Some 
of this class are not noted for education, but their strong 
minds, judicial qualifications and rich fund of information and 
sense of equity, make them men of the most available kind 
for the important office under consideration. Such as these 
are no trucklers, seeking peace at the sacrifice of righteous 
ness. You find in them men of courage and decision to act 
for the best interests of the Church. You find them to be men 
of truth, like Bishop Payne, whose word can be relied upon 
whenever any issue is staked upon it. A deceptive man in the 
episcopacy — an equivocator — is an abomination in the sight of 
God and a disgrace to any denomination. The sooner he is 
deposed, if he ever attains unto the office, the better it is for 
all grades of the Christian family. 

It is necessary, furthermore, for us to turn our attention to 
men of refinement. This is the time when people are making 
progress in this direction and should have men with accom- 
plishments exalted over them. Refinement on the part of a 
presiding officer is one of the traits by which he secures the 
respect of the members of his assembly. It is the principal 
trait and should be demanded by every member of any assem- 
bly. It should be manifested in the presidiary exercised over 
all deliberations and all discussions. When this is not done v 
then the presidiary business becomes obnoxious and intolerable 



CHAPTER V. 

The Number of Additional Men Needed for the 
Episcopal Office. 

AD ecclesiastical economy fails to adapt the needed means 
to a successful end. It does not comprehend the appli- 
ances by which church work is put into a flourishing 
spiritual and temporal condition. Hence, it develops itself in- 
to parsimonious theories which, when put into practice, dwarf 



15 



all the vital interests of church organization. Its management 
does by no means bring out full strength to full profit. The 
idea that it advances is, that an inadequate number of agents 
is far more profitable than a sufficient number of them. And 
.so it piles up a few dollars and places a few Bishops behind 
them and loses sight of every thing else but the dollars ; and 
pretends to be zealous for the prosperity of the Church. It 
makes the competency of force secondary to the preservation 
•of money, and fails to see the disadvantage of the inconsist- 
ency. 

We are now, though, at a period when ecclesiastical folly 
and superficial assertions must be set aside. This is the time 
when prudence must stand forth in the light of reason. It 
must come and decide the question. How many more brethren 
shall we have elected as additional Bishops ? Some now put 
the number down to a very small figure, but none touch the 
point of adequacy. 

When Bishop Turner, some years ago, said: " We should 
.have a Bishop for every state," there were many to laugh at 
his predication ; but few to see the force of it. I have thought 
the suggestion over and over, and have come to the conclusion 
that we should have at all times at least a sufficient number of 
Bishops to carry on the work ; and so, after bringing the mat- 
ter down to a practical consideration, I find it clear to my mind 
that at the next General Conference eight additional, God- 
fearing, meek and lowly men should be elected to the episcopal 
office. I claim this, although I imagine that I see popped eyes 
of the parsimonious almost flying out of their heads whilst 
they scream out : What! Eight? 

Yes, eight. A close and clear study of the work before us 
will prove it to any systematic mind that nothing less than this 
number will be sufficient to meet the demands and carry the 
A. M. E. Church to that degree of efficiency it should reach in 
this progressive age. It is necessary now to command the 
■work of the Church in detail and to see that every part of it 
receives due attention. Such management every common 
sense person sees, requires a full force of agents which must 
be established to keep the Church from suffering loss. 

Eight men added to the present number — not for the purpose 
of getting a big salary, nor for the purpose of having honor 
conferred upon them, but added to the number to do the nec- 



16 



essary work for the good of the Church— would make a force 
hardly equal to the demand on taking up the work in detail. 

Every one of the fourteen would find himself overburdened 
with duty. This is true. The magnitude of the work in the 
A. M. E. Church is so great that fourteen men in the episco- 
pate would find themselves taxed to their uttermost capacity 
to fully perform it in detail. I put stress upon this term, 
" detail," because it never has been observed in our general 
operations, notwithstanding its essentiality to the substantial 
prosperity of the Church. All good progressive organizations 
practically observe it, whilst others, anaconda like, take the 
job in a lump and think they have done great things, although 
they lie staggered by the act. 

The Catholic Church, one of the most thoroughly organized 
bodies in the world, has its clerical agents elected, appointed 
and situated to do its work in detail according to demand and 
not according to a parsimonious view of expenditure. Men 
first and money afterward, seems to be its wise, ruling motto. 

The Episcopal Church, another well organized religious 
body, seeing the absolute necessity of pursuing such a course, 
submits its «work into the hands of sixty Bishops. And still 
there are some poor fellows in the A. M. E. Church who almost 
get the St. Vitus Dance when you talk to them of more than 
six. You apparently see a twitching of their mouths, a jerking 
of their fingers and a swagging of their lower limbs when you 
mention the number. Happy are you if you do not have to run 
and get a silver spoon to put between their teeth whilst in their 
agony of fits. Their first consideration is more money by more 
Bishops : and then the feeling displayed is as though it ema- 
nated from the fact, that each one had to pay every new Bishop 
out of his own pocket. It is high time now that the work of 
God should be taken on its merit in the A. M. E. Church and 
subordinated to spiritual demands and not to paltry sums of 
gold. 

A sufficient corps of Bishops, fourteen of them, each one 
having a district composed of three conferences, would make 
just so much more in the A. M. E. Church of a body of evange- 
lists to go throughout the land preaching the unsearchable 
riches of the gospel of Chri t. And do you tell me that whilst 
this point is to be considered, you should view the subject in a 
temporal light? Salary in the face of this comes up only for a 
secondary consideration. It matters not whether the Bishops 



17 



get a big salary or a small one just so there is a sufficient num- 
ber to observe the demands of the Church, They are to be 
devoted to their office for this purpose and are commanded to 
be " not greedy of filthy lucre." 

The Church should select them, elect them arid then reason- 
ably pay them according to its ability. He who is seeking 
either the honor or money of the office, is fit for neither. Let 
us then, at this important period, bring the matter down to a 
proper degree and select, as is necessary to be done, eight 
good, efficient men for the office. May God help us to bring 
them forth in our next number. 



CHAPTER VI. 

The Men Suitable for Election to the 
Episcopal Office. 



JE have reached the subject, now, that requires more 
'' ; ;V A]j judiciousness and fervent prayer than any other in the 
catalogue. Eight more additional men to the episco- 
pacy are demanded for the future prosperity of our Church. 
The selection of these is an undertaking of the highest mo- 
ment. All the qualifications for the office are to be weighed 
m the gravest maner : and not the least among these are : — 

A-ffection, 

B-landness, 

I -ntelligence, 

S-incerity, 

H-onesty, 

O-rthodoxy, 

P-iety. 

These, in connection with a great many others, are to be 
sought after and prayerfully settled without regard to topo- 
graphical sections. Righteousness would say, " If they can be 
found no where else but in one place, pick them up and scatter 
them over the country." The Church now needs eight of its 
best qualified men for the episcopal office— eight intellectually 
and physically qualified men. These should be selected out- 
side of favoritism and organized combinations ; and they 
should be men sound in body and in mind. 



18 



And, moreover, strict attention should be paid to their eccle- 
siastical standing — not so much in a conneclional sense as in a 
denominational sense. They should be required to be man- 
fully devoted to the plainest and highest principles of Metho- 
dism, and free from any heresies or ritualistic observances 
which conflict with the character of the denomination as lecf 
on by Whitfield and the Wesleys. Men to be selected for the 
Bishopric of the A. M. E. Church should be the plainest kind 
of men in costume, word and doctrine. For the preservation 
of the simplicity of the denomination, this is a topic for the 
profoundest consideration. Let it be ignored and the natural 
consequence will be a confusion of service and a confliction 
ideas. Very careful, indeed, then, should the Church be in 
selecting men for this responsible office. It is not an easy mat- 
ter, and should be done by earnestly soliciting Divine guidance. 
Many good men, according to human preference and an appre- 
ciation, might be mentioned because of their peculiar attain- 
ments. If we were going to make an increase on the ground 
of classical qualification, we could make the most credible 
kind of showing by taking B. F. Lee, B. T. Tanner, T. G_ 
Steward, John G. Mitchell, Jos. S. Thompson and J. C. Ayler- 
But there are a multiplicity of features which are to be picked- 
out and blended together for consideration, in making the holy 
combination. The writer has endeavored to pursue such a 
course as this in canvassing the great body of meritorious, 
men making up the ministry of the Church. Being free from 
any axe-grinding arrangement and from all mutualized tickling 
business, he has endeavored to settle his mind upon men ac- 
cording to their qualification. And so, in doing this, he turned 
his attention, first, to the general attributes prerequisite to their 
selection, and looked for brainpower, religion, experience and 
learning. A conclusion has been reached, though only by 
careful study and examination. We think the ones whom we 
have put down in our minds, embrace in the aggregate the- 
qualifications needed to give more efficiency to the episcopacy. 

1. Dr. Benjamin F. Lee may be presented on the ground 
of his learning, prestige and grace. 

2. Dr. James A. Handy is a man of brains, ingenuity, in- 
formation and experience. It is no exaggeration to say that 
he is one of the most remarkable men in the Church. He is a 
thinker of the first order, and has common sense enough to* 
swallow down a cart-load of scientific speculators. He is m 



19 



business man besides, and can carry on a versatility of opera- 
tions. The power of his mind has affected the Church for 
good throughout the length and breadth of the land. 

3. Dr. Wm, H. Hunter \s noted for mental strength, moral 
courage and decision of character. He is, moreover, as clean 
and as pure as the inside of a fresh banana. If wisdom should 
prevail in the General Conference, he will certainly be elected 
as one of the eight additional Bishops. The times demand 
him. 

4. Rev. Moses B. Salters is just the very man to add mild' 
ness, devotion and humility to the Board. He would, it may 
safely be assumed, be just the kind, fatherly sort of man that 
ought to be seen in every one who claims to be a Bishop. He 
would never be the one to "boycott" preachers because he 
could not lead them by their noses. We want more Bishops to 
get just so much more of the qualities manifested by him. 

5. Dr. George T. Watkins is not so well known in the 
Church as some other men. But he is strong where he is 
known, and is distinguished for learning, loyalty and affection. 
He is as true to the Church as a " needle is to the pole," and 
would defend the interests of the brethren and the Church to 
the uttermost. 

6. Dr. John G. Mitchell is a man characteristically given to 
deliberation and gravity of demeanor. His scientific skill is 
eminent, and makes him influential in the sight of scholars. 

7. Rev. Cornelius T. Shaffer is a man of practical uniform- 
ity, dignity and simplicity. His self-possession is evinced to 
such a marked extent, that he would be able to increase the 
influence of the Board and reflect credit upon the Church. 

8. Dr. Benjamin T. Tanner is one of the most widely 
known men in the Church, and has done an immense amount 
of literary work. He is known on both sides of the Atlantic, 
and is esteemed because of the uprightness of his life. He is 
erudite and confirmed in all the methods of his Church. 
Standing in the Church as a Bishop, he would gain the respect 
of all classes, and make more potential the colored race of 
America. 

9. Rev. A. Grant, of Texas, is a man whose energy and 
perseverance would make him an important agent in pushing 
on the work in his State. He is large and commanding in his 
appearance, and has a pleasing address. He would add much 
strength to the force. He is presented for consideration. 



20 



These brethren would make worthy candidates and are 
brought forth for the glory and honor of God. They are not 
to be understood, as is vulgarly and disgustingly said — 
'* trotted out," as though'they were horses or politicians ; but 
as reverentially mentioned or nominated for the Church to 
think on them as suitable persons to be elected to the episco- 
pacy, for the purpose of doing the stupendous tasks which a 
few Bishops have been striving to do for a number of years, 
but have failed in doing, because they have been burdened 
with more, than three conferences. Let these brethren be 
talked of in a complimentary manner and carried to the Lord 
in the spirit of prayer, that their election may be a blessing to 
the Church. 



CHAPTER VII. 

The Episcopal Complement that should be 
Kept in Existence. 



IGHT more Bishops added to the Board would make the 
complement fourteen. This number would clearly meet 
the demands of the extended connection. It is the only 
number that is adequate to the demand. The work to be done 
stretches from the borders of Canada to the remotest point in 
Florida, and from the Pacific Coast in California to the Atlan- 
tic boundary in New England. The churches which are to be 
supervised are counted by thousands ; and the number of 
members by hundreds of thousands. These, for prosperity, 
are to be brought directly under episcopal influence. Every 
church and every congregation is to be made familiar with the 
existing heads of the Church. How can this be done ? By 
submitting to two or three Bishops who imagine they can do 
jt ? No. It can be done only -by the elders of the connection 
fully comprehending the nature of the work and making pro- 
vision for it. 

Now, then, let us call their attention to a few ruling, stubborn 
facts. We will not take the extravagant computation of mem- 
bership, although that would make our position still stronger, 
but the probable number in existence— the minimum at least— 
t hat is 200,000. All of these should be brought fully under 
episcopal influence by the making of such arrangements as 




21 



will enable the Bishops to reach them. This can be done by 
cutting up the 200,000 into just so many parts as can be handled 
by just so many Bishops. Suppose we say that we will divide 
this great number of members into fourteen parts. Then it is 
observed that we would have 14,285 members in each episco- 
pal district, or that each Bishop would have a district compos- 
ed of three conferences and a command of all the floating 
members of the congregations. This would make a task that 
would require all his time, talent and energy to put his district 
in the highest state of efficiency, to make the people more re- 
ligious, to increase the finances, and to make other denomina- 
tions more appreciative of the connection. This seems to be 
as plain as daylight. Military power in manipulating such a 
vast body of men would divide them into 40 parts, that each 
might have a general. Forty generals would be appointed 
that each might command 5,000 men. The expense would be 
an after consideration, from the very fact that efficiency would 
be the all important object. And this, too, must be conceded 
in the regulation of the Church. 

There should be fourteen Bishops always kept on hand. 
When one passes away speedily, another ought to be put in 
his place. A smashing up of districts is a smashing up of advan- 
tages. It is in the highest degree detrimental to the connec- 
tion. It breaks down that which was built up by the General 
Conference and makes confusion, if not a mild degree of 
anarchy. What would be the case in military government if, 
on the death of a general, there should be a smashing up of 
the brigade? Would it be regarded as a good thing, because 
of the death of a governor, to smash up a State ? What good, 
then, can come of smashing up episcopal districts? This is a 
vital point, and this has been a smashing age ; but the General 
Conference ought to see well to it that smashing is done no 
more. The Church cannot thrive under a smashing govern- 
ment ; so then, let every needed provision be made to keep 
intact all the important machinery, until the time comes for it 
to be changed by the power that made it. Whenever districts 
are formed and a number of Bishops are made, common sense 
alone tells us that some arrangement ought to be instituted to 
keep them in existence during a quadrennium. The magni- 
tude of the Church work now, in consideration of the territory 
and number of members embraced in it, requires us to divide 



22 

it into fourteen districts and to put these districts under four- 
teen Bishops. 

This accurate systemization of the work would advance the 
interests of the connection to a greater extent than ever has 
been done by any other process. It would give us full control 
of all ecclesiastical minutia conducive to the growth of all our 
various departments. It would place the A. M. E. Church be- 
fore the world as one of the most effectually organized religious 
bodies in it. And this of itself would beget a higher degree 
of substantial respect. Loyal adhesion to the fundamental 
law, and a prayerful study of certain subjects belonging to the 
Church government, make the writer see clearly that such a 
systemization would increase the grandeur and glory and in- 
fluence of this strong organization. 

Episcopal grace communicated (as it cannot be done now, 
because of the present limitation and confusion) to every ob- 
scure part of the Connection would arouse the most indifferent 
followers into action. It would lay hold of all the talent that 
now slumbers in darkness in every nook and corner, and make 
it contributive to the increased power of the Connection. 
Fourteen good men in this wise ordained and commissioned 
as Episcopal heralds throughout the land would do more in 
one year than six could do in two. 

Eight more added to the present number would be like put- 
ting an equal number of faithful horses to a team of six, stag- 
gering under a heavy load. None can fail to see this but those 
who are so blind they will not see. This would make an ade- 
quate complement ; and this is that upon which the General 
Conference should rest its decision. Without doing this there 
is never any meeting of demands nor bounds set to diminution. 
The work that is to be done may from time to time receive 
only partial attention, and the Bishops who are to do it may 
dwindle down from nine to six, and from six to one : and then 
the smashing business would cease, and virtual disintegration 
would be the consequence. Is it not high time, then, that the 
General Conference had comprehended this important matter 
and acted upon it ? 

It should ascertain for itself the precise number of Bishops 
needed ; and then designate them and provide the means of 
keeping the designated number in existence. The course 
heretofore pursued has been seemingly on the assumption that 
a few fellows wanted to be made Bishops, and that the confer- 



23 



ence had to make them, and have that as the end of it ; so that 
if they lived, they lived ; and if they died, they died. Better 
polity, though, now needs a better conception. 

We want so many districts firm, well-organized and inde- 
structible by any power ad interim. Then we want it as a 
recognized necessity that so many Bishops shall always be 
kept in office to attend to those districts. Nothing less than 
this can be conceded as a substantial form of government. 

This would signally increase the dignity of every district. 
It would confirm the fact that each Bishop had at his command 
something even more durable than even his own existence. 
He might die, but the charge would remain demanding his 
successor , and it would be known that his successor had to 
be elected. The Easton Diocese of the Episcopal Church in 
the State of Maryland, some time ago lost its Bishop, and re- 
mained bishopless until the meeting of the convention ; a suc- 
cessor was then elected to the poor, uninviting position, but 
he declined. The convention had to meet again and elect 
another. It did so, and he declined. It met again and elected 
another, and he declined. Again, and elected another, and he 
declined. The next one died before he had time to decline. 
And in all of this there was no attempt made to cut up the 
diocese, or blot it out of existence. It stood as the vacant 
charge of the venerated Bishop Lay, claiming the election of 
another Bishop. 

Let us observe this uniformity in government by establishing 
fourteen districts, and it will always be known that we must 
have an equal number of Bishops, and that no election is. to 
take place unless there be a vacancy in office, or that the 
extension of the work necessitated the organization of another 
district. 

This will put an end to so much useless discussion concern- 
ing aspirations and elections. It will exalt the office more and 
be better for the Church in general. 



24 



CHAPTER VIII 

The Means of Preserving the Episcopal 
Complement. 



fHIS is a proposition that should receive the full attention 
of the General Conference. The mind, perhaps, has 
never been turned towards it, and still it has been a sub- 
ject effecting the advancement of the Church. It must now, 
though, be weighed and decided. A certain number of dis- 
tricts must be laid out and kept supplied with the required 
number of Bishops. We say fourteen ; and so will say the 
General Conference, if it should see the advantage as we see 
it. Then it will make a provision by which it will keep up the 
full force of the board. There are two or three methods by 
which this might be done. By the first there could be a tem- 
porary arrangement and by the other tw T o a permanent one. 

First. The Board of Bishops could be directed to assemble 
three months after the obit of any member of it, and by due 
deliberation elect some well qualified elder to act as superin- 
tendent of the district until a Bishop should be elected. It 
could commission him to travel through the district, hold the 
annual conferences and do everything not forbidden by the 
law. He could be known simply as the District Superinten- 
dent, entitled to half the salary of a Bishop and to all his trav- 
eling expenses. He would have no right to the full salary of a 
Bishop, because he would not be a Bishop. He would be only 
a substitute to preserve the interests of the district until a 
Bishop could be elected to keep up the number. Such a pro- 
viso would be far better than the sledge-hammer one. It 
would be the means of keeping the work in order so that the 
General Conference might improve it and not have to recon- 
struct it. The Bishops themselves can see that this is a meas- 
ure much more profitable than the one that orders them to as- 
semble around a district with sledges, mauls and mallets to 
bang away until the pieces fly in every direction. They could 
appoint a superintendent, aid him and let him be a nominal 
Bishop, if you please, and thus preserve in an organic form 
that that has been made by the General Conference. This 
would be progression. 

Second. The General Conference could be called to assem- 
ble in extra session six months after the demise of any Bishop 



^5 



for the purpose of electing his successor. In this event the 
vacancy could be fully and permanently filled at once. It 
would promulgate the work without any interruption ; and, 
moreover, indicate such a high regard for the episcopal office 
and the perpetuation of system that the whole Church would 
be moved to more fervently support its government. The 
extra expense would find a full liquidation in increased moral 
strength. People would then conceive that the managers of 
the Church were unreservedly concerned in working for its 
welfare. They would be better satisfied with the course pur- 
sued. 

The law-making power would then be manifested over and 
above every other agency in the Church. It would show itself 
as acting upon the most reasonably justifiable ground. The 
death of a Bishop at any time ought to exercise the members 
of the Church as much as the death of a President does the 
people of the United States. Those of the clergy who have 
been elected and stand as members elected to the General 
Conference for four years, ought to be incited by law to be 
deeply concerned in filling the vacancy. This earnestness con- 
cerning a vacancy by death, ought to be evinced, not only in 
this case, but relative to a vacancy made by any ether cause. 
It should not be left subjected to the question whether any- 
body should be elected at the next General Conference to fill 
it. The method of government ought to be so well devised, 
and the number of Bishops made so indispensable to the pros- 
perity of the Church, that the standing decree would have to 
be, "A vacancy shall be filled as soon as possible." 

Third. The Episcopal Committee could be made the most ; 
efficient branch of government in supplying this necessity. 
Soon after the obsequies of any one of the honored board, the I 
chairman of said committee could convocate the members of 
it, at some suitable place, and have all the remaining Bishops 
present for the purpose of having an election and ordination 
to this holy office. This could be done in the event of a vacan- 
cy by any means. 

The perpetuation of the full force of the requisite number — 
fourteen— is a matter of so much importance, that it should 
receive immediate consideration in the case of any vacancy. 
This can be done effectually by no other means so well as by 
the Episcopal Committee. Let it be commanded by such a 
strong, able man as the last chairman, Dr. Jas. A. Handy, and 



be empowered by the General Conference to convene when 
ever there is a vacancy, that it may elect some one to fill h% 
and there will be no disorder of the work from the end 
of one quadrennium to another. The experience we have had 
in the passing period, tells us most emphatically that some 
remedy must be found for the benefit of the Church in this 
direction. A clear and well defined law formulated on this 
project, ought to be passed at the next General Conference. 
It is preposterous for any one to say that two or three Bishops 
can die, that two or three episcopal vacancies can be made> 
and that the work can go on just as well as it could before the 
deaths and vacancies. The logical deduction of this assevera- 
tion is, that it is either an absurdity, or that Bishops are no ac- 
count. He who will, can take either horn of the dilemma. If 
it is absurd, then it is imperative that the full force should be 
kept in existence. If it is true, then it is well enough to let 
the whole board die out. Such are the conclusions from 
thoughtless declarations made concerning this important sub- 
ject. Every one with common sense knows that six men can- 
not do fourteen men's work. They cannot do it. The work 
is seriously effected, therefore, whenever there is a lessening 
of the number. It has been but a few hours ago since I heard 
one complaint after another, in a certain section, because there 
had been no episcopal visits. These complaints are made, 
but it is not known, even in part, that the ground of them is 
caused by an insufficient number of Bishops to make the visits. 
What conception, then, can be formed of an extension of that 
ground by a gradual diminution of the number indispensable 
to the performance of the work by visiting every charge ? 
None at all. The good people who are to be nursed and en- 
couraged see what they presume to be culpable neglectfulness, 
and see an increase of it, but do not realize that on the death 
of every Bishop, whilst the work is growing with the age, bur- 
dens are imposed upon those who are left behind which they 
can accomplish in no better manner than could the children of 
Israel both make brick and gather straw. Then it is plain that 
every Bishop taken from an insufficient number detrimentally 
effects the work of all of them. Each one can do only a part 
of his own work and a part of somebody else's. More, then 
are needed. 



27 



CHAPTER IX. 
The Regulation of the Episcopal Districts. 



Ippf HE division of the Church into episcopal districts is the 
ffiw best arrangement that can be made of it. It is far better 
^ than the rotary system, and ought to be sustained and 
improved from time to time. All the advantages of it have 
never been realized, because there have not been a sufficient 
number of Bishops to show them : and still the Church ha s 
gained more by it than it would have gained by the other 
system. 

The brethren in by-gone days acted wisely when they adopt- 
ed it; for they took a plan that is concurrent with the itiner- 
ancy. It at once, when properly adjusted, indicates the num- 
ber of Bishops needed, and also facilitates the work before 
them. 

This may be made more intelligible by coming right down to 
practical illustrations. We now have, at least, forty-two an- 
nual conferences which, for efficiency of administration, should 
be arranged in the following order : — 

ist District. — Philadelphia, New York, New England and 
New Jersey Conferences. 

2d District. — Baltimore, Virginia and North Carolina. 

3d District — Ohio, Indiana and Pittsburg. 

4th District. — North Ohio, South Missouri and North Kansas. 

5th District.— Illinois, Iowa and North Missouri. 

6th District. — South Kansas, California and East Kentucky, 

7th District. — East Tennessee, West Tennessee and West 
Kentucky, 

8th District. — South Carolina, Columbia and North Georgia. 
9th District. — South Georgia, South Alabama and North 
Alabama. 

10th District. — West Florida, East Florida and South Missis- 
sippi. 

nth District. — North Mississippi, North Arkansas and South 
Arkansas. 

12th District. — Indian, South Louisiana and East Texas. 
13th District. — West Texas, North Louisiana and Central 
Texas. 

2:4th District.— North Bast Texas and Colorado. 



28 



We give this as a pertinent arrangement and a correct out- 
lining of the whole field of labor ; but concede four confer- 
ences to the First District, because of its prestige and seniority. 
It is thus left, though, to be an exceedingly heavy charge for 
any Bishop. The smallest one is not light, as may be seen by 
the number of square miles. All of them in the aggregate 
computed in this manner, show the immensity of the work. 
Two million, three hundred and twenty-four thousand, seven 
hundred and sixty-six (2,324,766) square miles of territory are 
to be traveled, from year to year, by the Episcopal superinten- 
dents to give life and prosperity to the Church. How cumber- 
some, indeed, then, and how awkward and impracticable must 
be the work in its present condition ! An analysis of the sub- 
ject now before us, will give a clear idea of it. 
In the First District, recording to this 

regulation, we would have 152,266 square miles 

In the Second 125,000 " " 

In the Third 119,300 " " 

In the Fourth 153,000 " " 

In the Fifth 356,000 " " 

In the Sixth '...,...419,000 " " 

In the Seventh 62,000 " " 

In the Eighth 58,000 " " 

In the Ninth 80,000 " " 

In the Tenth 82,000 " " 

In the Eleventh 76,000 " l< 

In the Twelfth 238,300 " " 

In the Thirteenth 203,600 " " 

In the Fourteenth 206,300 " " 

The districts put in this order, are very disproportional so 
far as the number of miles are concerned. The largest one 
has 419,000 miles, whilst the smallest has only 58,000 miles. 
This is a difficulty that cannot very well be remedied, but it is 
so far better than the existing arrangement, that it needs only 
a comparison to see the strength of the argument. If the dis- 
tricts could be equalized, so that each would embrace 166,054 
square miles, as it would by a proper division, then there would 
be more uniformity in carrying on the work. Each Bishop 
would have his equal proportion of terrifory, so that there 
could be regularity in the return of all of them to headquarters. 
Each one enabled by this system to throw all his force into his 
specific duty, would do more in improving the Church in one 



29 



year than is done now in two. There could be a concentration 
of thought upon one particular part of the Church that would 
benefit the whole of it ; for every Bishop could direct his ener- 
gies for the accomplishment of that that would be feasible and 
so benefit the whole Church. All the parts would be put into 
a good condition and the whole would consequently experience 
the same result. This desideratum, though, cannot be realized 
by less than fourteen Bishops ; for profitably there cannot be 
less than fourteen districts organized to live, but not to be de- 
stroyed. It is no begging of the question to say that a man of 
reason cannot fail to see that a strict and accurate regulation 
of the episcopal districts requires the attention of no less than 
fourteen Bishops. It is a matter so patent that it might con- 
vince the common masses. The necessity is so incontrovertible 
that it cannot beinvalidated by any adverse argument based up- 
on the attending amount of expense. He who will make a dime 
outweigh a virtue, has little regard for an angel's visit. It is only 
those who have not delved into the subject and understand 
little about the divine necessity who are all the time consider- 
ing a Bishop in connection with a silver dollar, whilst the col- 
ored people are spending tens of thousands of dollars annually 
just for a trifling ride on a steamboat or a car. 
' The great Church work of the Almighty God presents itself 
in part to us by the A. M. E. organization and indicates its de- 
mands tc be met to the greatest extent of constituent ability. 
Let it be done, then in the most faithful manner. Here we 
perceive hundreds and thousands and millions of miles to be 
traveled, not only by pastors and presiding elders, but by 
Bishops, to make the work, in the highest degree effective. 
The magnitude of the organization, the vastness of the area, 
the multiplicity of interested individuals, all combine to con- 
vince us that the episcopal force must be equal to the demand. 
This must be so for the purpose of cultivating and increasing 
respect for the episcopate, for the purpose of engendering a 
higher degree of appreciation for the connection, for the pur- 
pose of making the full ecclesiastical power of the colored 
people felt throughout this land and in different parts of the 
world. Let, then, the demands of this regulation be heeded, 
so that the lost ground by former methods may be regained, 
and those who scoff and sneer will be compelled to admit that 
the A. M. E. Church is ruled by sages 



80 



CHAPTER X. 
The Provision to be !\Tade for the Oldest Bishops. 



^■~-~JE want more Bishops for one of the noblest of purposes : 
an( J lnat ls t0 Preserve and honor the sires who have 
' done well in discharging their duties. Reverence to- 

old age at all times is commendable. It was one of the lessons 
which were most earnestly taught the Lacedaemonian youths. 
They were taught to respect old men by saluting them, by- 
giving way to them on the streets, by rising up to them in all 
companies and public assembles. Lysander said. " Old age 
had no where so honorable an abode as in Sparta, and that it 
was an agreeable thing to grow old in that city." Those who- 
are veterans in any beneficial service should be nursed and 
kept effective as long as this can be done by any means. An im- 
position of excessive duties upon them, the compulsion of them 
to bear heavier burdens than aged men should bear, is down- 
right cruelty. An encouragement of their ambition to labor, 
as they did in the prime of life, is an absolute lack of sympathy. 
Good old men are always desirous of doing work beyond their 
power of endurance, and will go, sometimes, until they fall 
down in their tracks. To permit them or to encourage them 
to do this, is not an exhibition of brotherly love and kindness. 
Humanity requires better treatment of them in every respect. 
If it is by any means possible to pursue a course that will con- 
tribute to a prolongation of their lives, it is meet to pursue that 
course. The reverse of this results in something like a modi- 
fied degree of manslaughter. The treatment of old men ef- 
fects either their brevity or longevity. Care, then, should be 
always exercised in this direction. 

Men who have grown gray in the Church, and have made 
their gray heads a crown of glory because they have walked 
in the ways of righteousness and ministered unto the saints*, 
should be taken as subjects for the highest consideration,. 
They should be preserved for their good, ripe counsel. 

Everyone, if he has been faithful, fatherly and kind, should 
be revered when he reaches his three score years and ten. 
Bishops in a church who have reached this age and spent their 
days in honor, should have every provision made for their con- 
tinued influence, happiness and comfort. 

Their burdens should be lightened and their ease of mind in- 
creased. This cannot be done, though, whilst the business 



31 



affairs and spiritual duties of the Church are imposed upon 
such a limited number as are not able to bear them. One ob- 
ject to be kept in view, then, in increasing the episcopal force 
is to be the preservation of the senior Bishops. The work is 
to be so regulated and re-adjusted that they ma)- be situated 
to feel relieved and not aggrieved. It is to be divided into just 
so many parts as will make it practicable for each Bishop to 
discharge his duty to the full extent of the law. Then those 
senior Bishops are to be fixed just where they ought to be for 
the purpose of sustaining their parental influence in their de- 
clining years. Coming as near to this point as we possibly can 
by giving three conferences to a district and regulating the 
number of square miles (for be it known that it is the number 
of square miles which should be considered and not the num- 
ber of members); we can situate those Bishops so that they can 
be made conspicuous as the honored fathers of the Church and 
at the same time live with an increased episcopal influence for 
good. This can be done thus when it cannot be done by tho 
" happy-go-lucky" sort of method that is observed at the pres- 
ent time. Let the old Bishops be kept near their base of oper- 
ation and they will be better able to show more of their effici- 
ency. By the way of illustration — 

1. The General Conference should settle Bishop J. P. Camp- 
bell right down in the First Episcopal District. It should do 
this because he has his home in it, and his work would begin 
at home so that he would not have to waste his strength in 
traveling away from home to begin his work. Honored and 
beloved as he is in his home district, he would be able, by this 
situation, to do more minute work than he could do in any 
other field of labor. He would be able to travel by easy stages 
the different States forming his field of labor and keep himself 
fresh to administer at every point. This would be a great deal 
better than putting him to the necessity of traveling through 
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina to reach his 
work in South Carolina. The case is so plain that it needs 
no extended argument. It would be a glowing tribute of re- 
spect, moreover, paid to the Bishop, aid given to his efficiency 
and credit cast upon the connection. 

2. Bishop John M. Brown should be stationed in the Second 
Episcopal District. He could then proceed at once from his 
home in Washington to attend to his duties in the States adja- 
cent to the District of Columbia, and thence to North Carolina. 



32 



Throwing all the energy, industry and zeal into those States 
that he now applies to different sections of the United States, 
he would be still more notable in the manifestation of his min- 
isterial power. Such an appointment, keeping him confined 
to this circumscribed episcopal limit, would enable him to hus- 
band that strength which is expended in hard traveling that it 
might be infused into his preparation for spiritual service. He 
could surely by his talent, education and refinement in this 
wise do more for God and man, and have improvement in his 
health, although three States and three conferences would be 
a heavy tax upon him. Let ail whom this may concern give it 
due deliberation. 

3. Bishop Daniel A. Payne should be appointed to the Third 
Episcopal District. He lives at Wilberforce, and Wilberforce 
is in Ohio, a part of the Third District. Let him be settled 
down there where he could enjoy the comforts of his cozy coL- 
tage, and he would be better prepared to work for the intellec- 
tual as well as spiritual interests of his Church. He has at his 
home in this district a large accumulation of literary matter, 
an orderly arrangement of papers, books and pamphlets, 
which he could handle for the benefit of the world. The con- 
nection would be made to feel the greater force of his talents 
by the opportunity he would have to use the material at his 
command. He would be able to do more for this district than 
he could do for any other one in the connection. And not only 
this, but he could be delegated with power to do more than he 
could do elsewhere for the cause of education. The General 
Conference could make him Regent of Wilberforce University 
as well as Presiding Bishop of the Third District, and by such 
an act could enable him to do for the University that which 
would make both it and its President far more influential in 
their educational operations. This would be honoring him for 
the work that he has done in that institution as well as for that 
he has done in the whole connection. The advantages would 
be so great by this means that we may all well say—" It is a 
consummation devoutly to be wished." The good effects 
would be felt throughout the land and Bishop Payne would be 
duly nurtured in his old age. He in Ohio as Regent of Wilber- 
force and Presiding Bishop of the Third District, would be an 
increased power for the good of the connection. 

Let these propositions be adopted and these veterans in the 
prelacy be in this wise relieved from arduous duties away from 



their home districts, and they will be known as the peculiarly- 
distinguished Bishops emeriti in every part of this land. They 
will be the topmost characters (if the work should be properly 
divided and an adequate number of Bishops elected) of an ec- 
clesiastical system that would gain the admiration of all good 
people among generations yet unborn. The African Methodist 
Church would be made conspicuous for its exemplary recogni- 
tion of service and its establishment of methods for good gov- 
ernment. Amen ! And so let it be. 



CHAPTER XI. 

The business ideas needed in the episcopacy for the 
advancement of church work. 



fREAT institutions are moved by ideas. A host of men 
with brain force sparkling like a glittering constellation 
- can turn every wheel of the highest organization. That 
bright conception of contrivances and of remedies for necessi- 
ties, wmich puts in motion latent agencies for practical results, 
is the essential power underlying all organic existence. It im- 
pels, develops and establishes organized bodies for the general 
good of man. Words without ideas are like arrows without 
heads. Men of ideas start the wheels for human progress and 
supply the means for keeping them in motion. The interests 
of society depend upon them. 

A great institution like the A. M. E. Church continually 
needs the application of vital force to drive it ahead in meet- 
ing its obligations. And, moreover, in proportion to its devel- 
opment it must be supplied with such accelerants as will meet 
its demands. Adulations of some great founder, clapping 
hands in the intensity of joy, productions of all the wealth of 
verbosity form no fulcrum for ascending nor basis for existence. 
Business ideas are needed in proportion to the advancing age. 

The episcopacy of a church is as a grand observatory. It is 
the station at which, and in which, men must see, form concep- 
tions, and devise plans "with malice toward none, and with char- 
ity for all" to promote every interest of the Church, both spiritu- 
al and temporal. It is the position in which men must be placed 
to see the difference between fossilized notions and timely 
ideas. The A. M. E. Church to-day, more so than at any 



34 



other period, needs qualified, grave, active business men added 
to those who are at the head of government. The harping up- 
on any old worn-out plan of a past generation does not suit the 
present time and the connection suffers by a toleration of it. 
In every annual conference to day there are financial problems, 
great and small, which demand the consideration and advice 
of Bishops who know something about financial matters. 
Economy and correct appropriation are topics to be considerd 
by them and to be disposed of by them to the highest degree 
of advantage. To this end it requires men who know the 
value of a cent and the proper place for its application. And 
not only so, but men who will take time to ponder, as serious- 
ly as bankers do, every monetary question effecting the pro- 
gress of the ministry and the Church. The need of such men 
and a goodly number of them, one of which certainly is the 
well-known Dr. James A. Handy, is manifest by the condition 
of every department of the Church and the sufferings of our 
faithful ministers. Confirmation of the fact is made by every 
project we may call up for testification. What advancement 
has been made in any fund for church extension ? What amaz- 
ing degree of prosperity has marked the cause of missions ? 
What arrangement has been effected to inspire the Church by 
an influential publishing department ? 

Much more could have been done in those directions, if in 
connection with the business ideas already in the Board, there 
had been a number of them equal to the demand. The busi- 
ness energy and perseverance and clear conception of Dr. 
William H. Hunter, of the Virginia Conference, a man of ex- 
alted character and moral courage, added to the Episcopal 
Board, would have made the Church a stronger organization 
to day. If there had been all the force needed, and a concen- 
tration of mind upon well formed financial plans, there would 
be to-day a flourishing condition of the Metropolitan Church, 
a better support of the suffering preachers, and more facility 
for the extension of education. Let no one think that the mere 
qualification of a Bishop to preach a good sermon, cultivate 
popularity and do a great deal of traveling is the principal 
thing in the efficiency of his life. If such ever was the case, it 
is not the case at present. 

The magnitude of the A. M. E. Church now is so great that 
its business features must have the strictest attention. The 
forming of corporations, the entering into contracts, the draw- 



3f 

of deeds, the erection of buildings, the nature of liens and 
!•> mortgages and various other kinds of transactions, are sub- 
jects which frequently require the advice of Bishops. Let 
; them be men, then, able to give advice on these subjects, and 
; eminent indeed will be their services to the Church. The 
1 temporal affairs by this means would be so regulated that great 
: benefit would be experienced by every department of the 
Church. Business management would produce a surplusage 
of the collections brought into every conference and this could, 
i from time to time, be turned into a fund to be kept in reserve 
i for emergencies. The advanced business talents of the Board 
could then be concentrated upon the aggregates and be direct- 
ed to the end of utilizing them for the good of the whole con- 
nection. Conference money is too frequently now regarded to 
be of but secondary importance. A few horns are spent upon 
subjects which should require days for consideration, and then 
appropriations are made without due comprehension of the 
applicability. There ought to Le a remedy for this defect, be- 
cause it is a matter that belongs to the public welfare. People 
make their contributions for the purpose of advancing ecclesi- 
astical causes — missions, theological institutes, religious publi- 
cations, etc., and so improvement in management ought to be 
made every year. Business capacity in the ordinary walks of 
life is increased according to necessity — brains, varied talents, 
experience and learning are added from time to time as busi- 
ness establishments grow, and by this means the growth is 
perpetuated for them to sustain the test of every competition. 
In strict keeping with this analogy, the A. M. E. Church is to 
have due attention paid to its business developments, and the 
business qualification of its episcopacy increased according to 
the spirit of the times. The demands for such a provision are 
urgent on every hand. There are many more projects than 
there were in former times, and the people are called upon to 
sustain them. In complying with this demand, they expect to 
see the good effects of their donations. They anticipate im- 
provements of Church institutions and the relief of needy 
agents. To give them satisfaction in this direction their money 
must be managed in a judicious manner. The representative 
men of the Church in the episcopacy must have keen business 
eyes to see that that money is fittingly applied at the time, or 
economically preserved for the future. It is by this method, 
and this alone, that the temporal power of the Church can be 
so increased that it will be conducive to the promotion of spir- 



36 



itual interests. Let there be a fertility of business ideas in the 
Episcopal Board, according to present demands, and the force 
of them will be felt at Wilberforce, in Philadelphia, in every 
part of the land, in Africa and among the West India Islands. 
The A. M. E. Church will extend its proportions and become 
" more terrible than an army with banners." 



CHAPTER XII. 

The Animation Created in Church Organizations 
by Episcopal Visits. 



T is a good thing for a Bishop to uniformly go from place to 
place in his district. The title of his office is more impres- 
sive than that of any other preacher, and gains more re- 
spect, whether he be a man of great or small ability. People 
are generally inclined to esteem the office as pre-eminently 
sacred , and if some of them can do no more than term its oc- 
cupant a "Bushup" they will signally show that they have a 
conception of the sanctity of the office. They will evince this 
by the manner in which they honor the occupant in word and 
deed. His station will be and is regarded to be as the medium 
by which the Church represents all the meritoriousness of the 
ministry, — truth, honesty, gravity, grace, love and wisdom. 
A Bishop fortified with such ingratiatory characteristics of an 
office can go forth qualified to do more than any ordinary man. 
People wait to receive him. 

What, then, are the effects produced by his visits ? He does 
not go into his brethren's various charges without having his 
services to be as "bread cast upon the waters." Here and 
there he will find weak and sluggish societies. He will find 
the members careless, stewards inefficient, trustees indifferent 
and Sabbath school scholars inattentive. Something must be 
done to arouse them. Something can be done to arouse them. 
He can do it. Let a set of people be found in this indifferent 
state, and it will be seen that there is efficacy in the services of 
a good Bishop. The announcement of a prospective visit from 
him will quickly cause the lethargic members to get up and 
rub their eyes, that they may see what is best for them to do 
by the way of making decent preparation for his reception. 
Two or three episcopal visits will stir them up to duty, and 



bring them together, and incite them to take steps to increase 
their strength that they may make some kind of respectful 
appearance as a church organization. Episcopal visits will 
produce these effects when nothing else will do it. Tough, in- 
: deed, must be the crowd that remains unsusceptible to this- 
: instrumentality. They must be worse than toads which refuse 
to move under the genial rays of the vernal sun ; worse tharr 
■ turtles standing still under the excoriating temperature of a 
\ red hot iron. A Bishop's visits arouse careless members,- 
ameliorate the condition of inefficient stewards, bestir indiffer- 
ent trustees, draw inattentive Sabbath school scholars and 
create a lively degree of interest in a part of every community. 
And still there is a set of "penny-wise and pound-foolish" 
fellows who are everlastingly cursing the columns of the Re- 
corder and abating the ardor of the Church, by carping over 
the necessary expenditures to keep the Church alive and make 
it a moving, godly power. Well would it be if the Church 
should so fix them that it might say, They have — 

" No, not a tooth or nail to scratch, 
And at my actions carp and catch." 

Let one speak of the necessity of electing more Bishops and 
they will, in opposition, speak of their notion of abolishing; 
the presiding eldership, advancing hereby the unsavory theory 
springing from ignorance, that if we have more Bishops we do 
not want presiding elders. Truly a little learning is a danger- 
ous thing. I believe in a full and extensive Methodist govern- 
ment, which gives such fruits as are indicated by the uncom- 
promising Kershaw. Having now made this digression, I 
come back to my line of argument to show that episcopal visits- 
are often the means of buoying up discouraged pastors. 

When a minister in charge has done all he can and still the 
people will lie as dead weights upon his hands, episcopal re- 
lief is to him a heavenly blessing. When a kind, paternal 
Bishop comes along, it gives him an inspiration that makes 
his work more effective. Hundreds know this to be true and: 
that such aid is all the time needed from this source. We 
sometimes hear preachers sighing from the very depths of" 
their souls for a Bishop — for a visit from a Bishop. They ad- 
mit that a visit from such a dignitary would promote their 
ministerial spirit as could be done by no other cause if they 
could secure that visit just at a certain time. But what pre- 
vents them from being successful at this point ? Why, the 



38 

I 

number of Bishops is so limited and they have so much to do- 
that it is impossible for them in scores of cases to go to the' 
relief of such brethren, no matter how great may be their dis- 1 
couragement They must be left to dwell in their dispirited 
condition, to communicate their gloomy feelings unto those 
around them, to experience more damaging results in the end.^ 
Even a single case of this kind is sufficient to cause any 1 
amount of reasonable regret, and this is intensified by bring-: 
ing it into contrast with that one that has been subjected to; 
the magnetic influence that extends through the pastor to the 
organization. Here we perceive the ministerial affinity that 
exists throughout all grades, Bishops, presiding elders and 
pastors. 

More remote still is this peculiar influence. It goes beyond 
even the bounds of the Church and affects those who are out- 
side of it. There are many people who attend services at the 
A. M. E. Churches who are still unconscious of the magnitude' 
of the Connection. They see the pastor at his regular routine; 
of duties, and sometimes they see a Presiding Elder, and some-; 
times only the pretension of one, going his rounds, and this is! 
the sum and substance of all the connectional power manifest- 
ed to them from year to year. In the face of this they have a/ 
measured degree of interest in the Church. Episcopal visits r 
though, paid to the Church cause them to increase this inter- 
est and to become deeply concerned in its welfare. They grow 
animated on the anticipation of the event and join in with the 
members as they do on no other occasion to make it beneficial 
to ttie Church This is true concerning friends, both white and 
colored. The inference is clear, then, that in proportion to 
the extension of episcopal visits will be the increase of attach- 
ment of persons outside of the Church. This attainment, it 
is well known, is experienced wherever the visits are made. 

A failure to make provision for the accomplishment of work 
to this extent would be nothing less than a calamity. The. 
animation of weak and sluggish societies, of discouraged 
pastors and outside elements by the itineration of an adequate 
number of Bishops, is as pertinent an argument as can be ap- 
plied unto the case. Let us have more Bishops, making the 
presiding eldership still more effective, and God will bless the 
Church. 



39 



CHAPTER XIII. 



The Necessity of having Bishops on E xtra Occasions. 



[VERY preacher knows the merit of the subject now un- 
der consideration. It is one of the most important links 
forming the argument that the welfare and accelerated 
progress of the A. M. E. Church, in the future, depend upon 
the wisdom to be displayed in the next General Conference in 
^establishing an Episcopal Board that shall embrace, in all re- 
spects, an adequate amount of numerical strength. He who 
will bend his own stubborn notions to the Divine Power guid 
ing the writer's hand and thoughts, will be able to see and 
will concede the force of this to the full extent. The bearing 
of this subject upon the case cannot be gainsaid by anyone 
who is disposed to bow to reason. 

The success of extra religious projects often depend upon 
the presence of a Bishop, and one is often needed on such 
•occasions. Whenever a corner-stone is to be laid, although 
elders can do it as well as a Bishop, it is far better and far 
more profitable to have the presence of a Bishop, that he may 
-carry on services and more impressively represent the char- 
acter of the Connection. The Catholics make a great display 
on such occasions, and have their big men, because they know 
that it is an auspicious time for the future good of the denom- 
ination. They know that by flourishing trumpets and com- 
manding episcopal aid, they can advance the interests of the 
Church. 

One Bishop at the laying of every corner-stone can make a 
greater impression than any other official in the order of the 
clergy. Hence, it would be well in the A. M. E. Church to 
have it so that whenever a corner stone was to be laid for an 
edifice, great or small, a Bishop could be present to perform 
the ceremonies and say, " In the name of the Triune God, the 
Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit, we lay this stone for a foun- 
dation of a house of worship to be consecrated to his service." 
Let provision be made that one can at any time and in every 
place be at such a ceremony, and it will, in the course of years 
be seen that the benefits derived from this little source alone 
greatly outw r eigh the objections interposed by skinflints who 
: wrap up their talents in a napkin, tie up their pockets and 
obstruct the word of grace. 



40 



It does frequently happen that ministers are perplexed in 
-making their arrangements for church dedications, because 
the number of Bishops is so very small that they can hardly 
catch one as he comes out of the woods. Sometimes the ser- 
vices have to be carried on without such a dignitary ; and when- 
ever this is done, it is done measurably to the detriment of the '< 
Connection ; for many will be disappointed by the absence of 
a Bishop. This is an occasion so memorable that no defect i 
should be in the arrangement made for it. There should be | 
no postponement or substitution because of the impossibility ! 
of securing the attendance of a Bishop. 

The dedication of a church is a great event and whatever!, 
can be done to make it memorable ought to be done without 
any reservation. There should at all times be a sufficient 
number of Bishops to meet this demand, so that some one; 
might go to any place and dedicate any edifice, no matter howv 
humble might be its dimensions. In every instance the trus-j 
tees, stewards and leaders should meet, receive and welcomel 
a Bishop at the door to give him in God's name, the keys of 
the church as a token that they will forever " submit to the 
Discipline, doctrine and government of the African Methodist 
Episcopal Church — and will forever afterward permit the min- 
isters and preachers of said church to preach God's Holy 
Word in said edifice." 

The effects of such a substantial, unfaltering arrangement 
would be observed in a growth of finances, an increase of 
members, an attraction of friends, a promotion of good gov- 
ernment, an intensification of respect for the episcopal order 
and a higher conception of African Methodism. The most 
important period in the history of a church edifice is the time 
of its dedication. People of all classes look to it as a time to 
be remembered. They anticipate a grand programme and the 
attendance of shining lights in the clerical circle. At no time, 
then, should they experience disappointment. Every provi- 
sion that can be made should be made to meet their anticipa- 
tion on such an occasion. 

Being induced once more to allude to the Catholics we 
find that Sunday, September nth of this year, they dedicated 
St. Ambrose Church at Cresaptown, Md. This edifice, 
although situated in a small town, became the subject for the 
attention not only of a Bishop, but of the Cardinal himself. 
He went there and preached the dedicatory sermon himself. 



41 



In doing this, policy was manifest and profit the consequence, 
Similar causes produce like results. Evidently, then, when> 
Protestantism is straining every nerve to check the dangerous- 
progress of Catholicism, the A. M. E. Church should have a 
fall force of its highest order of ministers to meet every de- 
mand on dedicatory occasions, and to meet their counteracting 
influence. Whenever a call is made there should be a Bishop 
to go promptly, whether it should be to dedicate a grand tem- 
i pie in a metropolis or a little frame building down at T. B., or 
J near Hole-in-the-Wall. He should go and proclaim the poweK 
} of his Connection. His presence is needed. 

And this is often found to be true concerning extraordinary- 
appointments for the purpose of liquidating church debts. 
People sometimes become very indifferent because of their 
heavy obligations and frequent efforts for extrication. The 
pastor then in his perplexity is compelled to make an uncom- 
mon exertion to arouse them to a sense of duty. He must go- 
to work on a subscription list and plans for a big meeting i 
and then at the stated time he must have those who will be the 
most potential to assist him. Prominent men of his own class 
will be of great service to him : but none of such great service 
as one whom he could call a Prelate. Hence, he makes all 
his arrangements with the intent of having such an eminent 
official at his hand. And then when everything is complete- 
he look^ for one. Just as lustily as Richard cried out, "A 
horse ! a horse ! My kingdom for a horse ! " so does he feet 
like crying out, "A Bishop! a Bishop! My pastorate for a 
Bishop ! " He knows the advantage to be gained by such a 
prominent acquisition and how much is to be lost by attending 
failure. He is therefore worked up to the highest degree of 
anxiety and does the best to get a Bishop to assist him. The 
church needs such assistance. If, then, the Connection would 
make ample provision to meet the wants of embarrassed 
charges, it should give a sufficient number of Bishops, settled: 
in well established districts, to go in such emergencies and pay - 
their own traveling expenses, if need be, to arouse the people 
to make a gigantic effort for their own deliverance. By this 
means the whole Connection would be made more prosperous. 
It would gain at least ten per cent, more of advantage than it 
has gained by the crude, circumscribed course it has been pur- 
suing for lo ! a great number of years. Many people disin- 
clined to give would be incited to give by the mere appearance 



42 



of a Bishop. Hundreds would arise and respond to the call 
of a pastor when otherwise they would remain indifferent. Is 
it not clear, then, that the "necessity of having Bishops on 
extra occasions " — to lay corner-stones, to dedicate churches,, 
to aid at special services for the liquidation of heavy debts — is 
a subject grave in its bearing upon the reason for a full election 
and well prescribed districts ? If it can be truthfully said that 
a Bishop is of no more service than any other preacher on 
such occasions, then the argument comes to naught. But the 
converse being true, unreservedly it may be asserted that the 
majesty of his office now stands forth more efficacious on all 
such occasions than that of any ordinary son of thunder.. 
Delegates, the voice of God regard. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

The Connectional Strength Manifested by an 
Adequate Number of Bishops. 



||N olden times it was common in the itinerancy to have many 
ff charges and few laborers. Circuits were burdened down 
^ with so many churches, that none of them could get full 
attention. Exhausted preachers would be compelled to travel 
from point to point and do but little in building up any of them>. 
because of the extensiveness of the work. This condition of 
things prevailed because the Church was poor, the people 
were poor. They were not able, oftentimes, to supply the 
preachers with any other kind, of repast but flitch, corn -bread 
and pumpkin mush. In the course of time, though, the mem- 
bership increased, the Church grew stronger and there was 
a division of the area of circuits and an increased number of 
itinerants to represent their strength. Once the general super- 
intendency of the A. M. E. Church had to be served by two 
Bishops, because it was too weak to have a larger number ; 
but as time advanced and strength developed, it had additions 
to its number. As the Church thus moved on it showed itself 
worthy of respect and secured it. At every stage of its pro- 
gress an adaptation of its machinery has extended its influ- 
ence. And so it has gone on, until to-day it exists as a great 
power that claims for itself treatment that shall go far beyond 
fogyism or puerility. No cloudy conception, no superficial. 



48 



conclusion, no ill-begotten prejudice must for one moment 
come athwart the deliberation that it demands for its present 
necessities. It must be clearly seen that the A. M. E, Church 
of the present is different from that of 1864. It has grown on dur- 
ing the past generation until it has attained proportions which 
must be brought to bear directly upon the masses of mankind. 
How can this be done ? By setting apart a less number of 
Bishops than that needed for the purpose ? Can it be done by 
turning them out of their districts to roam the plains like an- 
telopes ? No. The Connection's strength is to be made man- 
ifest if every member in it has to pay a dollar for this purpose. 

It is said that there are so many hundreds of thousands of 
them composing the great organization and possessing ability 
for Church government. This assumption can be made good 
by the sustenance of a full force of leaders to carry on all the 
general work. It can be shown then to a certainty that there 
is a power behind them to keep them in the performance of 
their duty to give evidence that the claim of numerical strength 
is a living reality and not a myth. Individually or collectively, 
the members of the Episcopal Board would stand as the rep- 
resentatives of the recorded thousands of communicants 
forming the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Even the 
salaries paid to these officials would be effective in proclaim- 
ing its character. The world at large would conclude that an 
organization sustaining such an efficient branch of service was 
worthy of the highest degree of respect. Everywhere the 
strength of numbers would be represented and by this means 
made to grow. People love to join in with the crowd and 
they would be induced to do it. 

And, still further, the A. M. E. Church has justly claimed to 
have within its borders a vast amount of intellect and learning. 
It is presumed that there is no other organization like it among 
all the millions of the colored population. Perhaps this is 
true ; but whether it be so or not, it is beyond controversy 
that the general intellectual and literary character of the or- 
ganization demands its highest order of representation. There 
are so many eyes directed towards it from every cardinal point 
that wisdom dictates the necessity of having the most ample 
arrangement made to most satisfactorily meet them. Astute 
people always want to see what kind of a representation can 
be made by any notable institution. They are anxious to as- 
certain what amount of brain and culture lies back of all pro- 



44 



fession. If they perceive meagreness in management or a 
limitation of the required number of leading agents, they con- 
clude that there is a lack of mental ability in the combination. 
But if they see an arrangement that is suitable for every exi- 
gency, they conclude that intellect'and learning predominate 
in the methods of government, Every'one knows that an im- 
posing Board of Bishops would-be of the highest degree of 
benefit to the intellectual and literary character of the Con- 
nection. People by this means would be enabled to form an 
idea of the intellectual power directing the connectional affairs. 
Every man of the Board, by his own brains, would be a crite- 
rion for his constituents. A Bishop's dignity and ability make 
their favorable impressions whithersoever he wends his way. 
These signal effects produced^are always to the advantage of 
the Church. They turn the^attention to its educational enter- 
prises, its teachers and accomplishments. That which has 
been done in this direction, by[one distinguished man alone — 
D. A. Payne — is a confirmation^of the averment without any 
additional proof. Take this, then, as the reason for the estab- 
lishment of a full force, and the matter will be settled without 
any further controversy to the attainment of proportionably 
good results. The various departments and agencies, created 
for the promotion of knowledge, will hereby be set forth in 
the most favorable light. 

All ranks of the ministry, moreover, will be prominently 
presented to the world. An episcopal force, judiciously dis- 
tributed all over the land, would indicate that a subordinate 
body of ministers were in co-operation as promoters of one 
common cause. There would be a uniformity in clerical rep- 
resentation that would have a bearing in every direction. A 
Bishop everywhere would be seen and recognized as the head 
and front of an active band of preachers. It would be decid- 
ed by those ignorant of the character of the Connection that 
organization, discipline, life and efficiency existed as the vigor- 
ous elements of the clerical force behind him. Every preach- 
er of experience knows that many respectable people outside 
of the A. M. E. Church form their estimate of its condition by 
the appearance of a Bishop. They see through him the vari- 
ous attributes belonging to a religious body and accordingly 
form their favorable opinion of it. 

Taking this method of representation, then, in its general 
sense, we observe that it effectually presents the whole power 



45 



of the Connection. A strong, imposing Board of Bishops, at 
any time, makes a more profound impression than one that is 
weak by inadequacy of numbers. A force equal to the de- 
mand of the Church in every part of the land would show the 
moral, intellectual, financial and personal strength of it to 
sustain that force in all its operations. Strength would mani- 
fest strength ; and manifested strength would beget strength. 
And so the A. M. E. Church would grow in the course of years 
until its influence would far exceed that of any other religious 
people. Its departments, and plans, and ministers, and mem- 
bers ; its societies, church edifices, schools and colleges ; its 
religious meetings, conventional assemblies and social gather- 
ings would all be presented to the world in one grand and 
glorious flood of light, that would sweep down every obstacle 
intercepting its onward march to divine accomplishments. 

So great would be its character as a part of the militant 
Church, that the shades of departed spirits— such as Allen, 
Dunn and Waters ; and the lustre of the heavenly hosts — such 
as fell upon Bethlehem's watching shepherds — would attend 
it in its onward progress in the work of reformation and re- 
generation. The Bishops confirmed would move like white- 
plumed marshals ; the ministers, to subordinate ranks ordain- 
ed, would fall in line like faithful orderlies ; the communicants, 
sanctified to the holy roster, would mark time like true born 
veterans ; and in this manner would the A. M. E. Church go 
on from conquest to conquest, whilst little penny-wise philos- 
ophers would stand amazed and say, " Du tell ! I didn't think 
that it could be so." 



CHAPTER XV. 

The Proselytes made to African Methodism by the 
Influence of a Full Episcopal Board. 



HE A. M. E. Church started in the face of strong oppo- 
sition. It had its white enemies and its black enemies. 
Every inch of ground was gained by fighting all along 
the way. Ability, pluck and perseverance had to be shown to 
get the mastery over tremendous odds. Step by step it went, 
proving its qualification to " hold fast to that which is good," 
and so on gradually added reinforcements to its numbers. 




46 



The highways were cast up, the crooked paths were made 
straight, its progress was expedited and successful organiza- 
tion secured. It pressed its way onward and adopted instru- 
mentalities for its growth. It has now reached an age and 
size which requires it to endorse the best of means for its 
prosperity and perpetuation. This is the time in which it 
should do its most glorious work. Sneering cavillers, listen ! 
I say this is the time in which the A. M. E. Church should do 
its most glorious work. It should now adopt any measure 
that would be instrumental in making converts to its service. 
It should have a standing board of fourteen Bishops to con- 
vince the world that it is a strong religious motive power. 

Let the attentive multitude of this nation see our organiza- 
tion in the fullness of its majesty and they will more readily 
be converted to it. The mistaken idea of increasing offices 
for emolument does no good ; but the exhibition of strength 
by a great Episcopal Board is the project that will produce the 
effect. Bishops enumerated to go all over the land in a dig- 
nified manner as gentlemen as well as preachers, showing 
common sense, and learning, and religion, and ail the qualities 
becoming to the episcopal office, would make more proselytes 
to the Church in one year than ever can be made by the small 
number now on hand. People of all classes, who pay but 
slight attention now to the Church, would be drawn by the in- 
fluence exerted over them to give it a consideration ; and then 
perceiving its represented power, would be induced to respect 
it. Many of those who have no confidence in the ability of 
colored people for self-government, would have such a striking 
evidence of it given here in prosperous church matters, that 
they would change their minds. It would be impossible for 
them to resist the impression made by the forces operating on 
them. They would at once concede that ecclesiastical govern- 
ment at least was a success, and then they would be inclined 
to more heartily sustain it, because it was a success. They 
would become its advocates and defenders. 

Then, again, there are those who take a greater interest in 
other churches because they regard them as more powerful 
than the A. M. E. Church. Let, though, the wisdom of the 
General Conference create a full force of ecclesiarchs and a 
reaction will be the consequence. Persons entertaining this* 
opinion will be wrought upon to realize that the A. M. E. 
Church is one of the most important organizations in the 



1 

I world ; and soon it would be seen that their pleasure would be 
in clinging to it. A great movement produces great results. 
As costly a project as has been the imposing Metropolitan 
Church of the Connection, no other undertaking has done so 
much in proclaiming the power of the Connection and in se- 
curing adherents to it. Let folks says what they may, mag- 
I nanimity will compel them to declare that a debt of gratitude 
is owed Dr. J. W. Stevenson for his determination and perse- 
! verance in clearing the way and laying the foundation for such 
I a magnificent superstructure. It makes proselytes from day 
to day, and shows them the magnitude of the Connection that 
sustains it. Like grand results will be produced by the es- 
tablishment of a bench of fourteen Bishops. Individually and 
collectively they will work upon the minds of outside subjects, 
and cause them to see the true merit of the Church. 

Impressions, furthermore, will be made upon those who 
look upon the A. M. E. Church as an ignorant, incompetent 
organization. Their misconception will be made so evident 
(I that they will admit it and view the organization in a different 
light. They will be forced to acknowledge that there is a pre- 
dominancy of intellect, learning, experience and clerical re- 
sources which would reflect credit upon any ecclesiastical 
body. And now, I ask, is not this sufficient alone, in the name 
of all common sense, to justify the institution of such an in- 
valuable project ? It is a great thing to gain the favorable 
consideration of any one class of people. Ecclesiastical gov- 
ernment is designed to exert a favorable influence over every 
body. Bishops are ordained for the purpose of making their 
j particular organizations more influential among all parties. 
If, then, in proportion to the demand, their number be increas- 
ed, the more and more extensive will be their influence by 
gravity, grace, refinement, liberality and kindness. Impres- 
sions will be made upon other church organizations as well as 
upon individuals and classes of individuals. Denominational 
prejudice will be more effectually broken down and fraternal 
relationship more tenaciously brought into existence. People 
will respect power when it is exercised in a righteous manner. 
Seeing it wielded by a grand bench of African Methodist 
Bishops for the glory and honor of God, they, in the form of 
church organizations will render obeisance to it and the con- 
stituency represented by it. The contempt which may have 
been nurtured by reason of a more contracted number will be 



48 



extinguished by the impressiveness of greater expansion. 
Even the Roman Church, that looks down with so much dis- 
dain upon Protestant societies, would be converted to the idea 
by the strong designated Episcopal Board that colored people 
are up and awake to the necessity of the times. Everywhere, 
the process of conversion, in some one form or another, would 
be observed contributing in various degrees to the benefit of 
the A. M. E. Church. Hosts of interested ones would be 
transformed into ardent friends and become pleased with the 
doctrines, the ministry, the forms of worship, the congrega- 
tions, the methods of government and all the several depart- 
ments. Inside and outside of the " household of faith," the 
Connection would grow in favor. The circumcised would pray 
for it and the uncircumcised would commend it. Episcopal 
footprints made in every part of the land, as they cannot be 
made now by the very small number of incumbents, nor could 
be made by even a dozen, would be as guiding marks to the 
true character of the great Connection. They would be ob- 
served and respected by even the Protestant Episcopal Church 
that has ridiculed some of the best labors of the African 
Methodist Church and likened the religion of the people ob- 
tained thereby to " hot mutton gravy poured upon a cold 
plate." Let wisdom rule the hour and this grand provision be 
made for these glorious results and blest will be the coming 
generation. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

The Temporal Advantage to be Gained by the 
Operations op a Board of Fourteen Bishops. 



|B|S we near the end of our discussion the most important 
features present themselves for practical consideration. 
va2 ^ ! The great question to be noticed now is : " What is to be 
gained by electing so many more Bishops ? " Some who have 
only superficially looked at the matter, think it would only be an 
additional expense. Some preachers — the very men who 
should be ready at a moment's suggestion to strengthen every 
grade of their order — are the very ones to be the most con- 
spicuous leaders in their inconsiderate opposition. They seem 
not to realize the fact that the stronger you make the clerical 
ranks the better the chances for the subjugation of the world. 



49 

There are those who, knowing nothing of a consecutive argu- 
ment and its concomitant illustrations, are always ready to 
stick two ten cent pieces in their glass-frames to look through 
them at the gravest ecclesiastical subjects, to come to such a 
conclusion as an opaque ten cent lens will bring them. I am 
not writing to make a show or to gain eclat, but for the glory 
of God to advance the interests of the A. M. E. Church. I 
know that the ideas and plans are practical, and that in carry- 
ing them out there is an advantage on every hand seen by 
everybody except those who are Past Meridian. The tem- 
poral advantages to be gained are as conspicuous as a field of 
corn* 

Congregations would be increased in every direction. Ac- 
cess would be gained to more people of every class — to both 
colored people and white people. This would be done to an 
extent of at least thirty-five per cent. This calculation is ac- 
curate, moderate and reasonable. It may be applied to every 
place within the range of episcopal influence. This would be 
the leading step for the promotion of temporal economy, 
Make the Bishops, and you get the people : get the people and 

well, what? Get the people and you have the means of 

increasing the finances of the Church. Those who should be 
drawn would be inclined to give liberally, because of the pro- 
vision made to give them satisfaction. The extra benefit de- 
rived from them alone would far over-balance any additional 
expense. It would go to the extent of at least twenty per cent; 
and this would would bring out the following probable result : 
In one conference of sixty appointments we would have an in- 
crease of $1,200 ; and in the district complete $3,600. By tak- 
ing this calculation throughout the whole work as the genera! 
result of eight more Bishops, we would have $28,800 ; this,., 
over and above their salaries, would give us a surplus of 
$12,800. Be it understood, though, that this calculation applies 
to only the current receipts and not to the general income by 
the dollar apportionment. Much greater indeed would be the 
advantage in this part of the case. 

Fourteen Bishops (and, by the way, a learned brother said 
to us a few days ago—" If I could have my say I would make 
forty"), fourteen Bishops traveling over the land, seeing to all 
the temporal, as well as spiritual affairs of the Church, would" 
infuse so much life into the people, that the Church treasury 
would realize twenty per cent, more of the dollar collection 



50 

than it does now. Putting this upon the minimum basis of our 
previous calculation this would annually bring to the treasury 
l5o,ooo more than it receives to-day. This fact, in the argu-J 
ment, is as plain to the mathematical thinkers of the Church^ 
as a simple lesson in a spelling book. But to those who know| 
merely how to read and write, it is as a gem in the mud j 
Hard working ministers know that a great many people refuse 
to pay their dollar, for the reason, they say, that they never 
see a Bishop. Satisfy their desire then in this direction, and. 
it is evident that you make up the deficiency. If we make 
provision to draw the people nearer to the Church, we cans 
work upon their better feeling and lead them to the accom- 
plishment of greater results. This is the only sure step by 
which we can make financial progress. It would bring $50,000* 
more into the Church treasury just as certainly as day succeeds- 
night ; and this would be regarded as only a small sum in the 
proportional calculation. Two hundred thousand members- 
with their multitude of attendants, ought to annually put 
$200,000 into the Church treasury ; and would do it, if business- 
principles in the Church government were permitted to pre- 
vail and concession were made to the aphorism of Bishop- 
Payne — that "wise men learn by reasoning." The idea is in; 
nowise extravagant ; the plan by no means infeasible. 

The Presbyterian Church is proposing to raise $1, 000, 000 
over its current expenses for the Church and ministry in con- 
nection with the General Assembly. Is it not reasonable in 
the highest sense for us to conclude by the establishment of 
the productive cause the infallible result for the A. M. E. 
Church would be one-twentieth of this amount every year?' 
The cause will bring it, but without the cause, it never can be 
obtained. 

The Connection at this time needs a fund for Church Exten- 
sion. This important matter lies as a still-born baby at it feet r 
and why ? No practical preconception has been formed and 
persistently carried on to its logical result. For more than 
twenty years in the itinerancy have I heard brethren talk of 
Church Extension ; and to-day there are some who know as 
little about it as some of the people in the days of Paul knew 
about the Holy Ghost. Of a truth they can say, "We have 
not so much as heard whether there be any" — Church Exten- 
sion. Soon, though, they would be made to know all about it 
by the operations of a full, efficient Episcopal Board. Money 



51 



•would be accumulated and turned into a substantial fund that 
would contribute more to the expansion of the Connection than 
lias been done by anything during the present generation. 
AVhen one thinks that the Connection, old as it is and powerful 
las it is, has no fund for Church Extension and that some are in 
the dark concerning it, he is almost startled to cry out, — " Tell 
it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon ; lest 
the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of 
the uncircumcised triumph ! " 

In the course of one year, by the efficiency of such a Board, 
the Connection would be prepared to make a movement in un- 
occupied territory to build a church and give it a congregation 
that it might be a part and parcel of the great Connection, re- 
fund the money and assist in building other churches. Going 
on from this beginning soon the Church Extension Department 
would become a fixed institution, more important than any 
■other department in the Church. Its funds would increase by 
the extra amount of the dollar apportionment secured by an 
-adequate Board of Bishops and by special collections for the 
purpose. Then indeed would a secretary of the Church Ex- 
tension Department be needed in lieu of some several other 
secretaries now in existence. The grand old Methodist Epis- 
copal Church has paid due attention to this subject, and boasts 
that she builds a meeting house for every day in the year. If 
the A. M. E. Church, in proportion to its numbers, can come 
in any sense creditably near the accomplishment of this object 
by the election of this given number of Bishops, it alone will 
justify the election. Then let the delegates— lay and ministe- 
rial — give due consideration to the matter. 

STRAY SHOTS. 

Some time ago, I saw represented an incident of two colored 
fellows engaged in an argument. One, by the way of illustra- 
tion, said : " Now, suppose you should lend Sam Jones fifty 
-cents"— 

The other immediately replied, "Nawr sar! Nawr sar ! 
Lend him nuffin." 
The first again said, " Yes, but hold on , I say suppose " — 
The second immediately again replied, " Nawr sar ! Sup- 
pose nuffm. If I'd lend Sam Jones fifty cents, never get it in 
<le world." 

During the course of our articles we brought up an illustra- 
tion and proved a point by the act of the United States govern- 



52 



-■4m en t in retiring its generals at a certain age. In doing this, I 
• was talking to logicians ; others, of course did not under- 
stand it. 

" So far as the 360 societies in a district are concerned, every 
r person who understands reasoning clearly sees that if a Bishop, 
- according to law, cannot attend to them by having three con- 
ferences, he should by no means have any more than three 
conferences. He who does not understand an argument, and 
yet is opposed to it, only makes it stronger by. attempting to 
meddle with it. " Yea, even so, saith the spirit." 



CHAPTER XVII. 

The Power a Board of Fourteen Bishops would Wield 
over the General Conference. 



HE Church needs just as many Bishops as will whole- 
somely effect ail of its conditions, assemblies and de- 
partments. In an imposing Board there is a concentra- 
tion of morals, intellect, learning, experience, loyalty and 
religion, which give it pre-eminency of influence on all impor- 
tant occasions. Such a body of men demands respect and 
gets it. On certain occasions there are times when a full force, 
when numerical strength is needed to make a deep impression; 
times when all the power of the episcopacy is required to sus- 
tain the majesty of the Church. A weight of numbers is 
worthy of consideration in this connection. It has direct 
bearing upon the General Conference. Such a Board can do 
more in the regulation of this law-making body than can be 
done by a smaller one. Each Bishop would have a better 
chance to train the brethren of his district — I say district — to 
do the legislative work before them. 

The persuasive influence, moreover, of the extended Board 
would produce a greater effect upon the General Conference 
proceedings. It would make them more reasonable in their 
character. When the excitement would become very intense, 
the number of Bishops specified would have greater power to 
control it than would be invested in a smaller number of 
Bishops. Nearly all persons have respect for an imposing 
body, and so would the members of the General Conference 
in the moments of their excitement. They would not be so 



i likely to disregard the united voices of this number as the^' 
1 would that of two or three. 

1 Fourteen grave men rising in the moments of excitement 
' and confusion to hold up the hands of the presiding officer,- 
would, by the majesty of their position, produce a salutary 
i effect. 

In council, by the knowledge obtained of the Church work, 
in detail, they could do, and would do, far more in the man- 
agement of the General Conference than is done by the pres- 
ent limitation of numbers. They could get nearer to the 
hearts of all the members and thereby exert a persuasive in- 
fluence that would in exciting times bring calmness and delib- 
eration. Such a result as this, would make one of the strong- 
est reasons by the way of justification. 

Every man of General Conference experience knows that 
there are certain periods during the session, when the mind 
inflamed runs counter to all law and order, and every effort,, 
for the time being, to make a modification is unavailing. The 
power on the platform is excited to the utmost extreme, but is 
not equal to the occasion. Now, it can either be made equat - 
or it cannot be made equal. If it can, then it should be done; 
and the advocacy of such a course is by no means a fallacy in 
the estimation of any just thinker. Fourteen men of equal 
ability can at any time do more than seven of the same number. 
They, as Bishops, could and would exert a greater influence as 
presiding officers of the sessions of the General Conference^ 
than is done now by the present number. They could, in every 
emergency, put their heads together and control refractory 
spirits. 

Their united efforts, moreover directed at convenient sea- 
sons for the purpose of getting the good graces of the mem- 
bers, individually, would increase the respect collectively and-: 
make more effective the power of the chair. And not only so? 
but their minute work, in detail, in the course of four years 
would make an impression that would be signally realized 
upon the platform in general session. Is this fallacy or is it a 
logical sequence ? Would we not just as naturally experience 
this good result as the seed-corn in the ground feels the effects 
of the gentle showers of rain ? Let an episcopal force, equal 
to the demands of the Connection in all respects, be firmly 
established and it is certain that its influence will be felt in the 
General Conference whenever it is in session. 



54 



It will, moreover, beneficially effect the work of legislation. 
The views of Bishops do have a bearing in this direction, and 
it must be conceded that whenever they are numerically strong 
enough to thoroughly superintend the Connection, they will 
be able to give the most valuable opinions concerning all the 
particulars of legislation and government. They will in this 
manner be able to modify wild theories and check unprofitable 
conclusions. Their serious study of all subjects, from year to 
year, will be accepted as worthy of mature consideration. 
Their knowledge will have its weight. The deliberation of 
the body, consequently, will be made more practicable and 
profound. Concentrate as much ability as can be concentrated 
in the presiding agency and you thereby highly improve those 
who are subject to it. By this means our General Conference 
proceedings can be advanced to the highest degree of admir- 
ation. The controlling hand of the episcopacy will coolly,, 
calmly and surely guide them to the very best end. The 
members of the conference will be instructed and convinced 
in all their deliberations so that they will be able to give good 
and substantial laws. The effects of such a power will go from 
every session to the uttermost borders of the Church. 

A general superintendency accurately and judiciously ap- 
plied to every annual conference district would be the means 
of acquiring an amount of experience and information that 
would be invaluable in qualifying the presiding officers to pro- 
duce these great results. 

Bishops more extensively associating themselves with breth- 
ren would thereby become better acquainted with them. This, 
would give them more power to control them as delegates in 
General Conference assembled. By this means efficacy would 
be given to moral suasion, so that, the Bishops, as presiding 
officers, would be able to bring order out of temporary confu- 
sion and not be compelled to turn to their dernier ressort. 1 
hold that an inadequate number of them, be they men 
never so good, cannot accomplish this object even though 
they may make the most laudable exertions. If, then, four- 
teen, by the grace of God, can prove efficient in this direction 
grand, great and glorious indeed will be the advantages, gained 
for the general interests of the Church. Power to control a 
General Conference session is not the least among the subjects 
which must be considered in this line of argument. Still,, 
those who know nothing about the matter may say, " Tut, tut,, 
tut! " 



55 



. , These dignitaries— the old ones and the additional ones — 
forking as only such a number of them could work, would 

nake themselves so influential as the presiding officers of the 
jfeeneral Conference, that the glances of their eyes, the words 

of their mouths and the motions of their hands would be more 

effectual than a cart-load of gavels and the maces of many 

marshals. 

Business would then be carried on in a uniform manner and 
finished in a shorter time. Participants in, and observers of, 
the proceedings would all be better pleased with the conclusion 
of them. Better laws would be made and the Church would 
be stronger in every respect. All of its branches would be 
made to flourish like a green bay tree. Other denominations 
would be drawn into closer alliance and a warmer fraternal 
feeling would be made manifest on every hand. The Episco- 
pal Board would become more admirable because of its effici- 
ency and gain more assistance in the prosecution of its mis- 
sionary work in distant parts of the world. It would be instru- 
mental in having a culmination of all that is good in every 
General Conference session and in proving the true merit of 
the Church. 

STRAY SHOTS. 

" Glittering generalities " is a very fine and high-sounding 
phrase. It is so marked in its alliteration. It sounds so nice ; 
but it has no application at all to my argument. It is an old 
worn-out expression of the Southerners, who used to direct it 
against the logical speeches of the abolitionists. Its sound,, 
though, in such a connection was much better than its mean- 
ing. The same is true of it to-day in a similar attempt to use 
it. Let it die. 

It is so hard sometimes to get some people to understand 
the difference between a brick and a stone. A colporteur, it 
is said, once visited an old woman, in her windowless hut, and 
talked to her about the death of the Saviour, and when she 
wanted to know if he was dead and the reply was made unto- 
her, "Ah, my sister! I see that you are still in the dark," she 
immediately answered, " Yes, law me. I have been after 
John for some time to knock a hole in that wall." And so we 
I just have to smile and let the matter go. 



56 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

The Condition of Affairs Peculiar to the Colored) 
People of America that makes it Necessary i 
for this Ample Force of Bishops. 



fHE condition of colored people in America, as every one 
knows, is altogether different from that of white people. 
It is, in many respects, the result of oppression running 
through centuries. In the course of this time white people 
have regarded colored people as unworthy of their associa- 
tion. They, or a great mass of them, have looked upon col- 
ored people as brutes, or as valuable beasts of burden ; have 
debarred them from every edifying agency beyond the preach- 
ing of their selected scripture — "Servants, be obedient to your 
masters " — and left them where only brutalizing oppressors 
could leave them. Having even deprived them of gospel 
light, and hardened them against the Ten Commandments, 
they have done all they could to degrade them. And then, in 
the face of all this, a Rev. Mr. R. A. Goodwin, of the Divinity 
School of Petersburg, Va., turns his cheek into the hardness 
of Appolyon's, and reads a paper before an Alliance, at Alex- 
andria, Va., and says : "There are, at least, seven millions of 
negroes in the United States that cannot under any true defi- 
nition of Christianity be called Christians." He makes his 
ungodly onslaught upon the whole race, and upon all the 
Christian elements of the race, and then goes on still further 
charging them with doing all the bad things which his bad, 
people in the days of slavery have compelled some of them 
to do. So much for Mr. Goodwin and all of that class repre- 
sented by him. 

Now, as to the white people in general, it is known that they 
do not even hold colored people in Christian fellowship. Put- 
ting all of these facts together, we are urged at this point to 
ask, what argument is there in comparing the instrumentalities < 
of the M. E Church with those of the A. M. E. Church? It 
matters not whether the former has but a single Bishop or the 
latter fourteen. 

The colored people of the United States need just such 
clerical appliances as will rapidly advance them to the highesl 
point of spiritual excellence. They are but slightly acquaintec 
with the methods of church government. Even, the ministr\ 



57 

self is not wrought up to that state of efficiency that prevails 
in organizations among white people It is indeed far from it. 
There is a lack of many qualifications which are indispensable 
to success on the part of the colored clergy. Science, and 
literature, and theological studies have not been advanced by 
colleges, academies and seminaries as they have been in the 
M. E. Church ; and so the untrained, suffering by these priva- 
tions, have been compelled to go forth with the additional 
embarrassment caused by a want of experience. The conse- 
quences naturally following this state of things are too patent 
for any amplification. It is enough to know that they exist 
and need a remedy. 

Apart from this fact, there are preponderating irregularities 
among colored people, caused by slavery, which give ground 
for one to say that "Although the assertion of Goodwin is 
absolutely false, it is true that there are many colored people 
in the United States who belong to church, but are in no sense 
Christians." 

They will shout and sing like saints, whilst they act and live 
like devils. This is true beyond all controversy. They exist 
as subjects for some plastic hand to bring them from the form 
of Godliness unto the power of it, And here the question 
arises — What agency in the A. M. E. Church would be the 
most powerful in making that band effective? Perhaps some 
insane man would like to hear some sane man give a pertinent 
answer : for seme think themselves very sane indeed when 
they ignore every proposition that cannot be called their own. 
; Bearing still further on this point is the fact, moreover, that 
colored people outside of the Church everywhere go to a most 
^woeful extent in profligacy. They waste their time in wild, 
(senseless games. They degrade themselves in low grog-shop 
{revelries. They incur divine wrath in Sabbath breaking indi- 
gencies. They follow the highways of folly, fashion and sin. 
They form a great host of worldlings to be converted to the 
sacred fold, whilst a watchman on the walls of Zion cries out, 
"We want members ! members ! members ! " 

True. And that is the reason why the A. M. E. Church 
^hould have the force necessary to obtain them. The people 
* m the seashore may cry out, "We want fish! fish! fish!" 
, j>ut the want will not be satisfied if the force is not sufficient 
: °o cast and haul the seine to get them. It requires more cler- 



58 



ical power of the highest order now to advance the interests 
of the colored people than it does for those who are ahead of 
them. Slavery has left many of them with crude notions con- 
cerning religion, and bad habits effecting society. It is plain! 
to ever)'' man of reason that it requires extraordinary agencies 
to reach them, elevate them and redeem them. It requires a 
thoroughly organized force that will demand respect, engen- 
der love and give the spirit of inspiration. They have been 
left in a ditch and the appliance must be equal to the emer- 
gency. 

Twenty-five years ago, hundreds of thousands of them knew 
nothing about church organization and government. They 
were insensible to the real honorable nature of the marital 
relationship, and lived according to the rule of the oppressor. 
Pitiful indeed was this condition of affairs, as observed by us 
at the close of the war, when we, Jas. A. Handy and all of us, 
went down South to organize church work. Moral darkness 
prevailed in every direction over those who had been kept in 
bondage. They were ignorant of letters, ignorant of rules 
and ignorant of everything essential to their moral develop- 
ment. Many more Bishops were needed than were available 
at that time. 

Coming down from that period to the present, we find color- 
ed people laboring still under disadvantages, in an ecclesiasti- 
cal sense, which are not experienced by any other class of 
people in the land. They are discarded, proscribed and left 
to work out their own destiny by depending upon their own 
resources. In this condition they stand merely upon the outer 
lines of the important works of the Church. They are mere 
tyros in great missionary projects, in extensive educational 
processes, in the advancement of charitable institutions and 
in the manipulation of all the machinery belonging to the es- 
tablishment of the Church. They are like raw recruits waiting 
to be drilled into service. Some advancement have they 
made by the means at their command, but they are not up to 
the times. This general inefficiency, as a matter of course, 
has its bearing upon the A. M. E. Church. Surrounded by 
such obstacles it cannot make rapid progress without thor- 
ough organization. It cannot overcome those obstacles with- 
out the active, powerful, episcopal agencies which are neces-{ 
sary to forward on its interests in every direction. They must' 
be put at its head because the condition of the colored people^ 



59 



needs just such a force to persevere against their discourage- 
ments and to overcome them. Such dignitaries, and just such 
a number of them as we have set forth, are needed to inspire 
the lower ranks of the clergy and build up the interests of the 
masses. 

Apropos, Rev. H. T. Johnson, in writing of a Conference 
session at Owensboro, says : " Bishop Turner so grafted him- 
self in the hearts of the people by his power and eloquence, 
that they classed him in the itinerant category, asked that he 
be left there ; and prophesied the speedy revival of their 
church interest should their prayer be granted." 

Here we have an illustration by a living fact. Let it be ac- 
cepted in its full force according to the condition of the race 
and great will be the godly competition. 

STRAY SHOTS. 

If a point is proved an opponent can do nothing but ac;ept 
it. He may be reluctant to yield, but common sense will com- 
pel him. If he resist this and continue in his course of mak- 
ing a whole list of groundless assertions, he shows himself to- 
be like a boy who cannot swim, floundering in a pond. He 
makes a great splash, but fails to make any headway. In his 
failure to comply with reason he may find himself going to* 
destruction. If the Church needs fourteen Bishops, and it wiU 
be to the very best advantage to situate them in a certain man- 
ner, then, by all means, it is reasonable to yield to the argu- 
ment in the matter. Every attempt at resistance has no effect 
upon the truth. 

Many remarks may be made to intensify them, but in the 
end they will only amount to declarations and stand no exam- 
ination. In fact, they will be as bad as the old woman's ex- 
clamation : " My gracious, how much those twins resemble 
each other, especially the one this way ! " 



60 



CHAPTER XIX. 



-:o: 



The Connectional Ascendency gained by Increased 
Episcopal Evangelization. 



fREAT and exceedingly important is the topic now before 
us. Its grave bearing upon the subject of our argument 
causes me to ponder long before I attempted to form a 
sentence on it. Nothing that has been advanced ; nothing 
that-can be advanced, demands such serious consideration as 
"The Connectional ascendency to be gained by increased,; 
Episcopal evangelization." The grandest efforts which can be \ 
made by any religious organization are those which are design- 
ed to Christianize the world. Nothing more sacred could be an i 
incentive to justify the setting apart of a hundred Bishops. 
And it is at this point that I again acknowledge divine guid- 
ance, although I have t been sacrilegiously gainsaid for even 5 
doing this. 

Any branch of Church government that can be made sub- 
servient to the process of bringing souls to Christ, is worthy 
of the most extensive consecration to this " aim and object." 

Bishops in the most exalted sense are the evangelists of the 
Church — the ones unto whom may be fittingly given the man- 
date — "Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 
And as ye go, preach, saying: the Kingdom of God is at 
hand." They are evangelists ; and being able to prominently 
engage in the eucharistical services, they are more than evan- 
gelists as they stand before the people and tell them "that the 
kingdom of heaven is at hand." 

Eight more such personages, in the name of the Lord Jesus 
Christ, added to the half a dozen faithful ones now performing 
this holy work, would just give that much more force unto it. 
At any stated period throughout the land there could be 
simultaneously preached fourteen episcopal discourses instead, 
of six. These would be eight times more effective than six, 
for each would produce its own individual effect. Marked im- 
pressions would be made upon multitudes of hearers who are; 
not reached by the African Methodist Episcopal Church to 
day. By this increase of evangelical power, the peculiar cn 
for—" Members ! members ! members !" — would be ansvvere 
with "cloven tongues of fire " and an upheaval of the elc 
ments of moral nature culminating in sound conversions an' 



I 
I 



61 



effectual confirmations. The increased multitudes having 
the gospel preached unto them by such an illustrious band of 
episcopal evangelists, would be startled as by the " sound of 
a rushing mighty wind," and yield up hosts of converts to be 
added to the Connection. To sneer at this assumption is to 

: put at a discount the preaching of the gospel. 

The most important duty of a Bishop is to preach. He does^ 
more for the Connection by this means than he does by any 
parliamentary skill. His character attracts attention and cre- 
ates a burning desire to hear him. Wherever he may go, he 

' will find an anxious throng ready to listen to the word of God ; 
falling from his lips. Let him in their presence "do the work of 
an evangelist "—preach, reprove, rebuke, exhort — let him de- 
clare the whole truth, "reason of righteousness, temperance 
and judgment to come " — let him do all this and his proportion 
of work will be done in advancing the Connection. So much 
for one. 

Increase the force, and just in proportion do you increase 
the ascendency of the Connection. Let fourteen Bishops, alt- 
of one accord, at any time go forth and do the specific work 
of evangelists, and just so surely will the Holy Ghost attend 
their efforts and make incalculable the results. Sinners willS 
be convicted, mourners will be converted and souls will be 
added to the Church. Let episcopal power be carried to the 
altitude of its efficiency in this direction, and the real worth- • 
of the organization behind it will produce the highest degree 
of joy among the angels. The Connection will show itself to 
be one of the grandest institutions existing for the. Christian*- 
zation of the world. It will, by this means, as it can by no- 
other, be recognized as an indispensable auxiliary to all other 
Christian organizations. Just one fact will have a bearing on.-- 
this point, Some years ago, Bishop Wayman preached in sp 
certain part of Maryland to a mixed multitude and so serious- 
ly affected a white man in the congregation that he took a trip- 
to Baltimore for the purpose of relieving his mind, but could* 
get no rest night nor day, until he sought and obtained relig- 
ion. Let the Connection provide the means to increase this 
kind of work and it will attain unto the highest object of its> 
creation. 

It will gradually exert a controlling influence among all the 
colored people of the land ; it will reach them as it cannot 
reach them by any other medium. The holy plans which will 

I 



02 



grow out of this arrangement— the consultations for the pur! , 
pose of ascertaining the best means of effecting certain classes, 
the conclusions to go forth on a designated day to concentrate 
evcy effort on them, the united solicitation for an outpouring 
of the Holy Spirit upon revivals of religion and all the ener- 
gy that can be directed for evangelism by the Bishops, will 
bring the colored population more signally under the influence 
of the A. M. E. Church than has ever been done in the course 
of its existence. Looking at the matter in this light, and con- 
considering the spiritual needs of the colored people, nothing 
greater, indeed, it may be asserted, can be designated as a 
means of building up the Connection. 

In all the work of the ministry nothing has a more signifi- 
cant bearing upon the world than evangelization for its conver- 
sion. Nothing more seriously demands the attention and 
approbation of every true-born Christian. This is the process, 
sacred, noble and inestimable, that requires every evangelical 
organization to strain itself for its advancement. If no other 
preposition is worthy of consideration as a reason for making 
Bishops, presiding elders and pastors, this is all sufficient for 
the justification of the establishment of as many of them as 
are demanded for this holy purpose. 

Let fourteen Bishops go forth as the evangelical pioneers of 
the A. M. E. Church and they will produce wonderful results. 
Let them be ordained and let them see the needs of the color- 
ed population as they alone can see them ; and let them make 
provisions to meet those needs in every spiritual respect — let 
them make revival work frequently a specialty, appoint their 
days for each and all to preach at the same time in different 
parts of the country on what would be known as "The Bis- 
hops' Evangelical Day," and thus preaching all with one ac- 
cord, they would arouse many of those whom they would find 
" dead in trespasses and sin," the work of the Lord would be 
revived from year to year, Christendom would be inspired and 
the Connection would be drawn nearer to other religious organ- 
izations to receive assistance from them. It would be conspic- 
uous as the great evangelical body of the world and be accept- 
ed as the benefactor of every denomination. It would make 
such a grand display of the black man's moral worth that it 
would crush the racial libels emanating from the Episcopalian 
Church, beat back the enemies concentrated at given points 
to contest its onward movements and clear the way for earnest 



63 



work in every direction — for building up good societies, for 
advancing the missionary cause, for promoting education and 
increasing the love for temperance. It is impossible to re:ount 
all the good results which would follow on this line by the es- 
tablishment of such a Board of Bishops. The whole race 
would be improved to such an extent that its voice would be 
irresistible in every part of the land. Reformation would be 
observed even among those who dwell in the slums and spend 
their money for grog. The aspiration for good would be in- 
creased in those who spend their thoughts upon the frivolities 
of life and disregard even the sanctity of the Sabbath day. 
Everywhere one would see the steady advancement in morals, 
religion, education and refinement. The Episcopal force — the 
primary cause of all these results — would truly make the Con- 
nection " more terrible than an army with banners." Its in- 
crease to the highest state of its efficiency is as much of a 
necessity as is the appointment of pastors to various charges 
and the perpetuation of Conference sessions. Let the glorious 
work be done. 

STRAY SHOTS. 

" A little fun now and then 

Is relished by the wisest men." 

These " stray shots " are not fired oft maliciously, but just 
as a sportsman shoots at his target. They give us a diversion 
from the hard work we have been doing for weeks to benefit 
the Church. And so we take up our gun to shoot at the marks 
put up before us. We aim now at the one designated by the 
inscription, " Superintendency." It is like unto a target made 
of pasteboard, tissue paper and gauze. It is a kind of hetero- 
geneous arrangement produced by hocus-pocus. One shot on 
knocking it to pieces will show it to be a confusion of diocesan 
and rotary methods with superintendency. 

Any clear-headed fellow knows that superintendency is one 
thing and diocesanism and rotation are two other things. 
The one is a general system, and either one of the two things 
is a specific method by which you carry out the general system. 
Superintendency is nothing less than this either by diocesan- 
ism or rotation. The Episcopacy, as it has been carried on in 
the A. M. E. Church for more than a generation by the district 
system (which is far better than the rotary), is just as much a 
superintendency as it is by the rotary system. No one can 
confound it with either one of the subordinate methods with- 



64 



mut resorting to legerdemain. His argument will be just as 
<:lear and consistent as the following sum in addition : 2 horses 
.plus 4 pigs plus 6 sheep plus 24 men make 36. A general over- 
sight of the Church is superintendency, no matter which 
method you adopt to observe it. I like our present one and 
.am opposed to innovations — changes which weaken. The 
best thing for us to do is to improve the machinery we have 
-instead of substituting it with something new. If we are all 
.the while planting scions and cutting them down we will never 
-have any trees. 



CHAPTER XX. 

"The Urgent Demand of all Departments of the 
Church for Compliance with the Fore- 
going Argument. 



JJ^JHAT reason dictates to be done wisdom commands us 
^Kfe all to do. The establishment of a project by incon- 
l trovertible argument, cannot be ignored without loss 

and inconvenience. When the Rebellion had its beginning in 
the United States, Gen. Sherman was consulted and asked 
how manv men would be needed to crush it. He said 250,000 
■men. This assertion struck the wise-acres with surprise and 
they said that he was crazy. Disregard of his suggestion 
brought disaster, and time proved the coirectness of his con- 
clusion. After this he was again consulted, but said, "O, I 
don't like to give an opinion, for fear that they will say I am 
crazy." It is just so with some people who cannot see beyond 
their noses ; they think everybody else is a fool who can. But 
at the same time they never destroy the force of a fact. 

If it is proved that we want more Bishops, as my learned 
friend, Dr. T. G. Steward, says it is ; if the argument all along 
the line germane to this subject has stood unassailable, as 
Eishop Brown's organ, The Mouthpiece, says it has; what else 
can we do in conclusion but endeavor to force the propositions 
home to every decent thinker ? The sum and substance of the 
whole discussion now requires us to bring it to a focus. 

All that we have said and proved must be subjeced to, and 
settled according to the urgent demands of all departments of 
the Church. The cause of Missions, which has been suffering 



65 



ever since I have been in the itinerancy, and which could be 
made a meritorious cause in the sight of all the people, de- 
mands something more for its success than the display of the 
ablest powers of an able secretary. It requires the application 
of the greatest amount of ecclesiastical force that can be de- 
veloped by an episcopa lagency, systematized, districted, well 
defined and made thus to be of the most practical effect, so 
that the incumbents, trumpet-tongued and full of fire, can go 
in every section of the land and cry out, "The harvest fields 
are ripening and the laborers are few." Thousands upore 
thousands are waiting to give response to such a grand incen- 
tive. 

The Publishing Department, prostrated and gyved like ar „ 
mighty giant prevented from manifesting his strength to rise 
and stand upon his feet, says, " Let the twenty-eight hands of 
fourteen Bishops be applied to my outstretched form, and 
let the cheering order, ' Now then !' be uttered whilst a united 
effort is made to lift me, and I'll arise, stand upon my feet* 
break every fetter, shake my Samsonian locks and electrify- 
the whole Connection." All the latent power of this circum- 
scribed would-be great institution appeals unto the thinking 
men — the men of reason throughout the Church— to do that 
which will be the most efficient method of bringing about a 
grand and glorious development Who would not spend five 
hundred dollars to make a thousand, and, moreover, to pro- 
portionably increase a people's moral worth ? 

The work of education is obscured like the light of the sun- 
by a sombre cloud. It says to the Church, "Remove these 
obstructions and I will shine. Clear the way for me, and I 
will put a halo over every altar and a nimbus around the head of 
every priest. Let my course be uninterrupted and I will prove 
to you that in connection with the grace of God, 1 knowledge 
is power.' " It pleads not for secretaries, but for Bishops, for 
an ample number of them, for men who, by virtue of their 
office, will be able to touch the heart of every multitude when 
they shall stand up and say, " Hear us for our cause, and be 
silent that you may hear." It pleads for Bishops to do this as 
Bishop Campbell did it at Asbury Park. 

The Church Extension arrangements, the Sabbath school 
work and all, send up a plea in this direction. Let those whom 
it may concern, then, take heed and comply with the argument 
to sustain them. Let them pay due attention to— 

i 

v ■ ■ 



66 



j. The preliminary remarks made to guard them against 
cliques and combinations ; 

2. The present condition of the Episcopacy ; 

3. The great amount of Episcopal work that is to be per- 
formed ; 

4. The character of the men needed to do it ; 

The number of additional men required to do it ; 
6. The men suitable for election to the office ; 
7.. The complement of them to be kept in existence; 
§. The means of preserving this complement; 

9. The regulation of the episcopal districts; 

10. The provisions to be made for the oldest Bishops ; 

11. The business ideas to a greater extent needed in the 
episcopacy for the advancement of Church work ; 

12. The animation created in Church organizations by epis- 
copal visits ; 

13. The necessity of having Bishops on extra occasions; 

14. The Connectional strength that will be manifested by an 
adequate number of these officials ; 

15. The proselytes that will be made to African Methodism 
by the influence of such a complete board ; 

16. The temporal advantages whicb will be gained by such, 
a board ; 

17. The power it would wield over the General Conference 

sessions ; 

18. The condition of affairs peculiar to colored people that 
demands such a force ; 

19. The Connectional ascendency that will be gained by this- 
increased means for episcopal evangelization ; 

20. The urgent demand of all departments of the Church 
for a compliance with this argument — let them consider all 
these deductions in all their bearings in every direction, and 
just so surely as they do it reason will overcome prejudice and 
immature notions, so that no just one will say that the assump- 
tions are erroneous. The truth will be admitted, the necessi- 
ty will be observed, the benefits will be secured. It will be at 
once concluded that the all-important step should be taken tO' 
accomplish the work before us. It will be conceded that it 
should be done to reach the teeming millions — black, white and 
red, on the continent and on the islands in the Caribbean Sea.. 
The power of the Lord God of Hosts will be invoked, every 
resource of the Church will be brought into command, and a 



67 



mighty assault will be made upon the unregenerated world. 
By thorough and substantial organization the Connection will 
be qualified for stupendous accomplishments between the 
present and the time to come, when the greater centennial 
period shall dawn in 1916. It is wise now to begin to make 
the organization develop its strength for that time. Let us at 
once put an end to all bickering, extinguish all jealousy, 
stamp out all envy, and cultivate love for one another so that 
we can build up the walls of Zion for the end of the century 
that is to come. Let us coolly, calmly and devoutly deliber- 
ate upon the propositions laid" before us and let each one es- 
teem others as better than himself. Whilst we weigh all these 
measures to make the Church stronger, and look forward to 
the period when the Connection shall have lived one hundred 
years, let us have no ill feeling towards each other. Let us 
put our candidates all in a row and then view them and make 
our selections from them. Far be it from any one concerned 
to abuse and villify any brother for the purpose of defeating 
him. This is an auspicious time for us to indulge in loving 
kindness that our hearts and minds may be blended together 
in a zealous manner for our Master's cause. The vintage is * 
commanding us to do our best in supplying it with our ablest 
foremen to lead on in giving it efficient service. So important is 
this point in our argument, that personal relationship should 
always be discarded, and the qualification of the men be ac- 
cepted. Taking this in connection with all the other weighty 
propositions, let us turn our attention to them that we may he 
blest in our decision. If we do this, great indeed will be our fu- 
ture progress ! Step by step the old Church will move on in de- 
veloping all its energies. It will bring in the talents of outside 
men and build up agencies to produce a moral effect in every 
avenue of life. It will by the grace of God make the very na- 
tion hear its voice in the time of peace and the time of war. 
Twenty-nine years hence, when this my labor of love shall be 
remembered or forgotten and a million of members shall have 
hearts all beating in unison to celebrate the great centennial 
year, they shall say : " We thank thee — 

" That thou, O God, didst first inspire 
Our fathers with supreme desire ; 
To found a Church whose creed should be 
The good of man, the love of thee." 



INDEX. 

-:o:- — 

Introduction,.. Page 3 

Preliminary Remarks, . . " 5 

Chapter II. — The Present Condition of our Episcopacy, " 7 

Chapter III. — The Great Episcopal Work that is to be 

Performed Page 10 

Chapter IV. — The Character of the Men Needed for 

the Episcopal Office, Page 12 

Chapter V. — The Number of Additional Men Needed 

for the Episcopal Office, Page 14 

Chapter VI. — The Men Suitable for Election to the 

Episcopal Office, Page 17 

Chapter VII. — The Episcopal Complement that should 

be Kept in Existence, > . . .Page 20 

Chapter VIII.— The Means of Preserving the Episco- 
pal Complement, Page 24 

Chapter IX. — The Regulation of the Episcopal Districts " 27 

Chapter X.— The Provision to be made for the Oldest 

Bishops, Page 30 

Chapter XI —The Business Ideas Needed in the Epis- 
copacy for the Advancement of Church Work. ..Page 33 

Chapter XII.— The Animation Created in Church Or- 
ganizations by Episcopal Visits, Page 36 

Chapter XIII.— The Necessity of having Bishops on 

Extra Occasions Page 39 

Chapter XIV.— The Connectional Strength Manifested 

by an Adequate Number of Bishops, Page 42 

Chapter XV.— The Proselytes made to African Metho- 
dism by the Influence of a Full Episcopal Board,. Page 45 



70 



Chapter XVI. — The Temporal Advantage to be Gain- 
ed by the Operations of a Board of Fourteen 



Chapter XVII.— The Power a Board of Fourteen Bis- 
hops would Wield over the General Conference, .Page 52 

Chapter XVIII.— The Condition of Affairs Peculiar to 
the Colored People of America that makes it 
Necessary for this Ample Force of Bishops, Page 56 

Chapter XIX. — The Connectional Ascendency Gained 

by Increased Episcopal Evangelization, Page 60 

Chapter XX. — The Urgent Demand of all Departments 
of the Church for Compliance with the forego- 
ing Argument Page 64 



Bishops, 



.Page 48 



MB 



5.1 



